AI gave Val Kilmer his voice back. But critics worry the technology could be misused.

The voice engine derives meaning from the written words and can use these cues to "illustrate intense anger and emotional pain," according to a statement. In April, Sonantic showed how the audio service can convey couples in the throes of a heated argument. In that demo, two voices have an ordinary conversation that quickly escalates into a shouting match. In real life, the scenario would preserve "actors' vocal cords" and allow "them to earn passive income," the company said in a release.