When AI voice models began making headlines around the world, Imogen Heap started getting calls. The award-winning singer-songwriter, producer, polymath, and entrepreneur is renowned for using cutting-edge tech in her music, and, as AI hype hit a fever pitch, Heap kept fielding the same question: ‘can we make a model of your voice?’
“They knew that I'm interested in technology, and they knew my answer probably wouldn’t be a flat no,” recalls Heap. Initially excited by the creative possibilities, Heap says those offers were quickly followed by a host of caveats and clauses, terms and conditions. “I began to feel like I had no control over the whole thing. Everybody kept saying how hard it is to create an AI voice model… but I just thought, it can’t be that hard.”
