HYBE Faces Criticism for Launching AI Voice Conversion Tool: Revolutionizing Voices or Crossing the Line?

In a bid to revolutionize content creation, HYBE's AI audio subsidiary, Supertone, has rolled out Supertone Shift, an AI-powered voice conversion service.

The announcement follows the closed beta debut at the international game exhibition 'G-STAR 2023,' where Shift garnered widespread attention.

Enhancing Content Creation

Shift allows users to seamlessly transform their voices into those of various characters, catering to diverse mediums like movies, games, and virtual streamers.

SuperTone first introduced Shift in a closed beta format at the B2B booth of the international game exhibition 'G-STAR 2023' held at BEXCO in Busan last November. At that time, Shift received significant attention from major domestic and international media and continued to attract interest with the visits of attendees.- Newsis

Supertone CEO Lee Kyo Gu emphasized Shift's role in supporting creators and simplifying their workflow.

The primary goal of this open beta is to collect various opinions to make Shift easily accessible to production companies and creators. In the official version, we plan to expand the number of voice samples and add more features useful for content creation, making Shift the optimal voice creation tool for all.- Supertone CEO Lee Kyo Gu

Currently available for free download via the Supertone website, Shift's open beta aims to gather feedback for further improvements.

The official launch is scheduled after June 26, promising expanded features and enhanced accessibility for production companies and creators.

Advanced Voice Synthesis

Powered by Supertone's proprietary model NANSY (Neural Analysis & Synthesis), Shift analyzes voices within seconds, offering real-time conversion with minimal delay.

For voice analysis, users can start voice conversion to the selected character immediately by reading a sample script provided by Shift for about 10 seconds. Customization is also possible. Shift is equipped with technology tools that allow users to freely create voices tailored to their preferences or purposes by finely adjusting voice composition elements such as the mixing ratio between user and character voices, expression level of emotions, and pitch. - Newsis

Customization options allow users to fine-tune elements like tone, pitch, and emphasis, catering to specific preferences and purposes. Despite the technological innovation, HYBE's announcement has triggered a backlash among some fans, who express reservations about the advancement of AI technology.

Netizens have taken to social media platforms to voice their concerns, labeling themselves as "anti-AI."

Ongoing Discontent

Fans continue to voice opposition to HYBE's CEO, Scooter Braun, citing past controversies and dissatisfaction with the company's associations with Zionism and its recent collaboration with Universal Music Group (UMG).

The announcement also reignited discussions about BTS member RM's previous stance against AI, referencing his lyrics in the song "All Day," where he expresses disdain for AI and algorithms.

As HYBE navigates through mounting controversies and ventures further into AI technology, observers are closely monitoring its future trajectory and its potential impact on the entertainment industry.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Cassidy Jones