David Greene sues Google over NotebookLM voice

David Greene, a longtime NPR host and current host at the public radio station KCRW, is suing Google. According to reporting by The Washington Post, Greene filed the lawsuit alleging that the male podcast voice in the company’s NotebookLM tool is based on Greene. NotebookLM is Google’s AI-powered note-taking and research tool. Among its features, the tool includes Audio Overviews, a feature within NotebookLM that generates podcast-style audio using synthetic voices to discuss user documents. The tool allows users to generate a podcast with AI hosts.

Greene, who currently hosts the KCRW show “Left, Right & Center,” became convinced that the AI voice was replicating his specific cadence—the rhythmic flow of his speech—and his intonation, which is the rise and fall of his voice in speaking. He also noted the replication of his use of filler words like “uh.” This realization came after friends, family members, and co-workers began emailing him to point out the resemblance between his natural speaking voice and the synthetic audio generated by the Google tool. For Greene, the issue touches on his professional identity, as he has noted that his voice represents the most important part of who he is.

Google has rejected the claims, stating that the voice used in the product is entirely unrelated to Greene. The company maintains that the synthetic audio was created through standard professional channels rather than replication. According to a Google spokesperson, who serves as a company spokesperson, “The sound of the male voice in NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews is based on a paid professional actor Google hired.”

This legal action highlights the growing tension surrounding AI voice technology and synthetic audio generated by artificial intelligence. The dispute follows similar controversies in the tech industry, such as when OpenAI removed a ChatGPT voice after actress Scarlett Johansson complained that the system was using an imitation of her voice. These incidents reflect broader industry debates over how AI developers train and deploy synthetic voices that resemble real individuals.

Why it matters

The lawsuit underscores the growing legal and ethical friction between AI developers and public figures over the unauthorized replication of human voices.