State of Confusion: Why You Need Expert AI Voice Consulting in a Fragmented Legal World
- Jim Kennelly
- Jan 16
- 4 min read
If you've been keeping up with audio & performance news in New York lately, you know the ground just shifted a bit beneath our feet, so to speak
As of December 2025, with the signing of the “Synthetic Performers” bill and the earlier “Digital Replica Contracts” law, New York has officially entered the era of regulated AI. For those of us in audio production and voiceover casting, this is the moment we have been waiting for. It brings rules, structure, and (hopefully) fairness.
But if you zoom out from New York, the map gets a bit messier. We are currently navigating a tension between state laws and federal ambitions that complicates running a national campaign.
At Lotas Productions, we've been tracking this closely. We are a small, diverse team that values the human element of this business, but we are also deeply engaged in digital voice consultation. We wanted to share our take on what this legal patchwork means for our friends on the microphone and our partners in the agency world.
The New York Baseline: Clarity (For Now)
For a long time, AI in audio felt like the Wild West. New York’s new laws finally put up some fences. For our voice talent friends, the Digital Replica Contracts law is a massive win for consent. It voids those vague, boilerplate clauses that try to acquire your digital rights quietly. If a contract wants to use your AI twin, it now requires specific descriptions and legal representation.
“We do not need a law to tell us not to steal a voice. We believe in consent and fair compensation because it is the right thing to do.”
For our clients, it legitimizes the AI voice consulting work we are excited about. We can now build hybrid projects where human creativity leads and technology supports, knowing the rights are secure under New York law.
The Patchwork Problem
Here is where it gets complicated. Because there is no single federal standard yet, our rights and risks effectively change every time we cross state lines. This creates a localized mess. A contract that works for commercial voiceover production in Manhattan might not fly in Nashville. A disclosure that satisfies California might be insufficient in Albany. For instance:
In Tennessee: If you are recording in Nashville, you are working under the ELVIS Act. It treats voice as a strict property right to protect their music industry.
In California: It has its own safety and transparency laws that focus on labeling deepfakes.
At The Federal Level: The White House recently signaled a desire to limit “onerous” state regulations to speed up American innovation.
Expertise in a Changing Landscape
This legal confusion hits different sectors in different ways. That is why voice consultation is not just about picking a pretty voice anymore. It is about strategy. Here is how we are seeing this play out in the specific areas we handle every day:
Political Commercials: This is the front line. New York’s new laws demand strict disclosure for synthetic performers in ads. In the high stakes world of political advertising, getting this wrong can kill a campaign. We ensure our political clients are compliant, verifying that every voice is human or properly disclosed.
Global Voice Casting: The United States is just one piece of the puzzle. The European Union has its own AI Act. When we handle international voice casting, we must navigate cross border rights. We help clients understand that a “worldwide buy” now needs to account for worldwide AI regulations.
eLearning Casting: This sector is huge for AI because of the sheer volume of words. But it is also where voice actors fear replacement the most. We help clients design eLearning casting strategies that leverage AI to scale without removing human talent from the equation.
We Are Your Stability: AI Voice Consulting that Helps You Navigate the Twists & Turns of a Constantly-evolving System
So, why does this matter to you? Because in a world where New York says “Stop,” Tennessee says “Wait,” and Washington says “Go,” you can't rely on the law alone to keep your brand safe. The legal ground will remain shaky for awhile, and that's where we come in.
At Lotas, our ethics don't depend on which court case wins. Whether you're looking for voice talent for a global campaign or need guidance on an internal AI strategy, we act as your compliance safety net. We ensure rights are clear across the board, protecting you from chaos during this legal tug-of-war.
The legal fight will keep being fought. We'll just keep working to tell great stories with great voices.
References:
New York State Executive Chamber. (2024). Governor Hochul signs legislation to protect consumers and boost AI transparency in the film industry. https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-legislation-protect-consumers-and-boost-ai-transparency-film-industry
Tennessee Office of the Governor. (2024). Governor Lee signs the ELVIS Act into law. https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/2024/3/21/photos–gov–lee-signs-elvis-act-into-law.html
Ready to navigate the future of audio together?
Let’s talk about your next project and how we can keep it safe, effective, and sounding incredible...
