Doug Cockle criticizes AI platforms for replicating his voice

Doug Cockle, the voice actor for Geralt of Rivia in ‘The Witcher’ series, has expressed strong opposition to AI platforms that replicate his voice. In recent interviews, Cockle described the unauthorized use of his voice by generative AI as the ‘bugbear of my life.’

Cockle stated that if he possessed the necessary financial resources and influence, he would ‘sue every single AI platform out there with my voice on it’ and ‘sue them into the ground.’ While the unauthorized use of his performance is a primary concern, he emphasized that the potential for reputational damage to the character is even more significant. He expressed fear that AI could be used to make Geralt appear to hold ‘horrible’ views, such as racism, misogyny, or extreme political opinions, which could mislead fans.

Cockle argued that voices in video games are the result of human performance and should not be treated as mere digital imprints. Despite these concerns regarding AI technology, Cockle has confirmed his return to voice the character in the upcoming ‘The Witcher 4’.