The controversy of artificial intelligence in dubbing: threat or advancement for entertainment?

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the entertainment world has been a source of controversy in recent times. One of the platforms that has sparked controversy in this regard is Prime Video, which has chosen to employ this technology in the dubbing of some of its productions, especially in Korean dramas. This use of AI has drawn criticism from experts and professionals in the sector, who point out the potential negative consequences that this could have, especially for voice actors. Users and dubbing professionals have expressed their discontent with this practice. Cristóbal Sepúlveda, a Chilean translator, expressed his outrage in a tweet regarding the quality of the dubbings done with AI on Prime Video, describing them as an insult to the work of voice actors. On the other hand, dubbing director and YouTuber Javier Jugo highlighted the machine's inability to interpret the emotions of a character in the same way a human actor would. While artificial intelligence can be used to improve the audio quality in productions, replacing human work with automation raises serious concerns in the entertainment industry. Since last year, Prime Video offered the option of translating dialogues under the label Dialogue Boost, a feature that analyzed the original audio of a movie or series to enhance dialogue clarity through AI. However, this option has been removed from some titles, generating uncertainty about the future of this technology on the platform. Industry experts, such as Víctor Luperdi, CEO of Torre A Doblaje Perú, have emphasized that while AI is making its way into the dubbing industry, it is still far from achieving the quality and human sensitivity necessary to completely replace voice actors. Dubbing work, which involves the interpretation of emotions, voice tones, and nuances, is an art that goes beyond simple dialogue translation. In this sense, voice actors have neighboring rights to those of authors, which allows them to receive compensation for each broadcast of the productions they are involved in. The replacement of actors by AI could represent an economic loss for these professionals, while also raising questions about the limits and scope of artificial intelligence in the creative field. The lack of regulation regarding the use of AI in dubbing and artistic interpretation is a concern for various sectors of the entertainment industry. While countries like Spain have clauses that protect the rights of voice actors against the use of AI, in other regions the situation is less clear. The discussion about the ethical and legal limits of artificial intelligence in the creative field remains relevant, sparking debate and reflection in the entertainment industry. Ultimately, the use of artificial intelligence in the dubbing of audiovisual productions raises ethical and professional dilemmas that must be approached with wisdom and consideration. While technology can bring improvements to the dubbing process, it is necessary to preserve the quality and sensitivity that human work contributes to artistic interpretation. The future of AI in the dubbing world will depend on how technological innovation is balanced with respect for creativity and talent in the industry.