In his State of the Union speech on Thursday night, President Biden touched upon a growing concern in the entertainment and tech sectors by proposing a ban on AI voice impersonations.
"I've signed over 400 bipartisan bills at home. There's more to come with my unity agenda," Biden stated. He then outlined various proposals for his potential second term, including strengthening penalties for fentanyl trafficking, passing bipartisan privacy laws to safeguard children online, utilizing AI for our protection, and putting a stop to AI voice impersonations.
However, the president didn't provide details about the specific rules or consequences he intends to implement concerning this advancing technology, nor did he clarify if it would impact the entertainment industry. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) had expressed significant concerns about AI during its negotiations and strike against major studios last year. While an agreement was reached that set conditions for using AI to replicate actors' features and voices, it did not prevent studios from training AI to generate entirely fictional performers unrelated to real individuals.
Aside from the AI-related announcement, Biden's State of the Union address experienced some disruptions, with Congress members, including Georgia's Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, occasionally heckling. Greene wore a "Make America Great Again" hat, and the broadcast revealed she was shouting during Biden's speech.
In summary, President Biden's mention of banning AI voice impersonations raises questions about the potential regulations surrounding this technology, especially in the entertainment industry, which has had previous negotiations addressing AI concerns. The State of the Union address also faced interruptions, including vocal opposition from some Congress members.