A tool that purports to digitally replicate the vocal characteristics of the late rapper Tupac Shakur, available at no cost, allows users to create audio content that sounds like it was voiced by him. As an illustration, such a generator could be employed to synthesize the rapper’s voice reading a script or singing lyrics he never originally performed. Functionality and accuracy varies depending on the technology employed and the data it was trained on.
The appeal of such technologies stems from a combination of nostalgia for the artist and the potential for creative expression, albeit with significant ethical and legal considerations surrounding intellectual property and the unauthorized use of a deceased person’s likeness. Previously, replicating a voice required extensive studio work or professional voice acting; these technologies offer a more accessible, though not necessarily equivalent, method.