Over the last couple months, this was written in June of 2023, there have been a lot of discussions on the use of AI technology in all aspects of life. Modding is no exception. There is a lot of controversy on the use of AI Voice cloning in particular and how it affects voice actors. With that being said, I want to make clear where I stand on this issue.

I recognize that this technology has many voice actors worried about the future of their careers. However, I don’t believe that mods are going to cause a detriment to their livelihoods. This is a fan project, something that will never be monetized and is niche in its audience. If I could voice actors I would. However, I can’t really do that for Mass Effect mods. Most actors are unable to participate in fan projects because of contacts or in organizations like SAG. And even if I could get around that, I don’t have the funds to hire them. This leaves AI as the only choice.  I am also of the opinion that this type of modding falls under the purview of fan work. Fan works do not necessarily have the permission of the original creator to exist and yet for many fandoms they do. If you look at works like A Song of Ice and Fire or any of Anne Rice’s works, none of those creators have ever given permission for fan works to exist and yet they still do.  I am also not spreading harmful, derogatory, or misinformation with this project. This project was simply about giving a character more screen time. At the end of the day, it’s totally okay if the idea of using AI in this way is something that you can’t agree with. However, I believe that the way this mod is implemented does not harm voice actors.  As of right now the use of AI does not violate any Nexus policy. You can read about Nexus' policy on AI here.