Veteran broadcaster David Greene has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the male podcast voice featured in the company’s NotebookLM tool closely mirrors his own distinctive delivery. According to reports by The Washington Post, Greene claims the artificial intelligence generated voice replicates his cadence, intonation, and even his characteristic use of conversational fillers.
Greene, widely known for his tenure as host of Morning Edition on NPR, said concerns were first raised by friends, relatives, and colleagues who contacted him after hearing the AI generated voice. He explained that the resemblance struck him as more than coincidence, describing his voice as central to his professional identity.
Currently the host of Left, Right, & Center on KCRW, Greene argued that vocal tone and rhythm are not superficial traits but integral elements of his craft. In his view, the alleged replication raises questions about ownership and consent in an era when artificial intelligence tools can simulate human expression with striking realism.
NotebookLM, one of Google’s experimental AI offerings, enables users to generate audio overviews in the style of a podcast, complete with AI hosts. A Google spokesperson told the Post that the male voice in question is based on a paid professional actor hired by the company and is not modeled on Greene.
The dispute adds to a growing list of conflicts over AI generated voices that appear to echo real individuals. In a high profile case last year, OpenAI withdrew a ChatGPT voice after actress Scarlett Johansson publicly objected, saying it closely resembled her own. As voice synthesis technology advances, the boundary between inspiration and imitation is becoming a flashpoint in the broader debate over artificial intelligence and creative rights.