Google Accused of Copying Radio Host David Greene’s Voice for AI Tool NotebookLM

In a shocking new legal battle that’s sending shockwaves through the tech industry, veteran radio host David Greene has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging the tech giant illegally replicated his distinctive voice to power its AI-driven NotebookLM tool. The case has reignited fierce debates about AI ethics, voice cloning, and the unauthorized use of human likenesses in artificial intelligence systems.

The Lawsuit That’s Rocking Silicon Valley

David Greene, the former co-host of NPR’s beloved Morning Edition and current host of the Left, Right, & Center podcast on KCRW (an NPR member station), discovered the alleged voice theft in a truly unsettling way. According to the Washington Post, Greene learned about NotebookLM from a former colleague and was “completely freaked out” when he heard what sounded unmistakably like his own voice coming from the AI system.

The lawsuit, filed on January 23 in California federal court, makes explosive claims that Google deliberately sought to “replicate Mr. Greene’s distinctive voice — a voice made iconic over decades of decorated radio and public commentary — to create synthetic audio products that mimic his delivery, cadence, and persona.”

Legal Claims: A Multi-Pronged Attack

Greene’s legal team has built a formidable case against Google, citing multiple violations:

Right of Publicity Violations: The complaint alleges Google violated both California statutory law and common law protecting individuals’ rights to control the commercial use of their likeness, voice, and persona. This right of publicity is particularly strong in California, where many entertainment and media personalities reside.

Unfair Competition: The lawsuit claims Google’s actions constitute unfair competition under California law, arguing that the company gained an unfair advantage by using Greene’s voice without permission or compensation.

Unjust Enrichment: Perhaps most damningly, the suit alleges that Google “unjustly benefited” from Greene’s voice, profiting from his decades of work building his distinctive radio persona without providing any compensation or obtaining consent.

Google’s Fiery Response

Google has categorically denied the allegations, pushing back hard against Greene’s claims. Company spokesperson José Castañeda told multiple publications, including Gizmodo, that “These allegations are baseless.”

Castañeda provided a detailed defense, stating: “The sound of the male voice in NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews is based on a paid professional actor Google hired.” This suggests Google is prepared to fight the lawsuit aggressively, potentially by demonstrating that any similarities to Greene’s voice are coincidental or that they obtained proper rights through their contracted actor.

The Broader AI Ethics Crisis

This lawsuit emerges against the backdrop of a growing crisis in the AI industry regarding the use of human likenesses and copyrighted material. The controversy surrounding Greene’s voice is just the latest chapter in what many are calling the “AI ethics wars.”

The Scarlett Johansson Precedent

The case bears striking similarities to last year’s controversy involving OpenAI and actress Scarlett Johansson. OpenAI faced intense backlash and ultimately removed its AI voice called “Sky” after Johansson accused the company of copying her voice without permission. The actress had explicitly declined to license her voice to OpenAI, making the situation particularly contentious.

Copyright Battles Heating Up

The Greene lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of legal challenges facing AI companies. Major tech firms are facing numerous lawsuits alleging they used copyrighted materials to train their AI models without proper authorization or compensation to rights holders.

In a particularly notable case, Apple is facing legal action over claims that it used pirated books to train its Apple Intelligence AI system. Meanwhile, the Copyright Office has been grappling with how to apply existing copyright law to AI training practices.

Artists Unite Against AI Theft

The controversy has galvanized creative professionals across industries. In January, major artists including Scarlett Johansson launched a high-profile campaign against what they call “AI slop and theft.” The movement has gained significant traction, with thousands of artists, musicians, writers, and performers demanding stricter regulations on AI companies’ use of human creative work.

NotebookLM: The AI Tool at the Center of the Storm

NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered note-taking and research assistant, has been making waves in the tech world for its ability to generate remarkably human-like audio content. The tool can summarize documents, answer questions about source materials, and even create podcast-style discussions based on uploaded content.

The feature at the heart of Greene’s lawsuit is NotebookLM’s “Audio Overviews” function, which generates conversational audio summaries that sound eerily like real human hosts discussing the material. It’s this feature that Greene claims sounds exactly like his voice.

The Stakes Are Enormous

This lawsuit carries massive implications for the future of AI development and the entertainment industry. If Greene prevails, it could set a precedent requiring AI companies to obtain explicit permission and pay licensing fees for any voice or likeness used in their systems.

The potential financial impact is staggering. Voice actors, radio personalities, podcasters, and other audio professionals could suddenly have a powerful new revenue stream by licensing their voices to AI companies. Conversely, AI companies could face massive new costs and legal complexities in developing their products.

The Voice Cloning Technology Arms Race

The controversy highlights the rapid advancement of voice cloning technology. Modern AI systems can now replicate human voices with uncanny accuracy, capturing not just the basic sound but also the subtle cadences, emotional inflections, and distinctive speech patterns that make each voice unique.

This technology has legitimate uses in accessibility, entertainment, and communication. However, it also raises profound ethical questions about consent, identity, and the commercialization of human characteristics.

What Happens Next?

Legal experts suggest this case could drag on for years, potentially reaching the Supreme Court as it touches on fundamental questions about AI, intellectual property, and human rights in the digital age. Both sides appear prepared for a protracted battle.

For Google, a loss could mean not just financial penalties but also a fundamental rethinking of how it develops AI voice technology. For Greene and other audio professionals, a victory could provide crucial protections in an increasingly AI-dominated landscape.

The Industry Watches and Waits

As this high-stakes legal drama unfolds, the entire tech industry is watching closely. The outcome could reshape how AI companies approach voice technology, potentially slowing innovation but providing much-needed protections for human creators.

One thing is certain: the Greene vs. Google lawsuit is more than just a legal dispute—it’s a watershed moment in the ongoing struggle to define the ethical boundaries of artificial intelligence in an increasingly automated world.

Tags: Google lawsuit, David Greene, NotebookLM, AI voice cloning, right of publicity, tech ethics, artificial intelligence, voice theft, NPR controversy, Silicon Valley legal battle, AI copyright issues, voice actor rights, tech industry scandal, AI ethics debate, voice replication technology

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