LLYC launches Free the Voices, the first diverse synthetic voice bank, to combat anti-LGBTQI+ biases
June 21 2024 - 10:07AM
To address the ongoing discrimination and daily microaggressions
against the LGBTQI+ community, driven in part by biases against
their voices, global Corporate Affairs and Marketing consulting
firm LLYC today announced the launch of
Free the
Voices, the world’s first diverse synthetic voice bank.
Developed in collaboration with Monoceros Labs and their online
voice studio Fonos, this innovative project aims to raise awareness
about voice-related biases while contributing to a more inclusive
digital environment. The voices produced will be available at
freethevoices.llyc.global/en for anyone to use,
enabling audiovisual productions and projects to reflect greater
diversity.
In an increasingly digital world, AI-generated voices are
becoming more prevalent across numerous platforms, but most of them
are built based on cisgender and heteronormative samples.
Free the Voices seeks to change that. Created from
over 250 voices collected from LGBTQI+ community members from
across 12 countries, it will make numerous diverse voices available
for various audiovisual content, for free. It seeks to educate
society about the biases associated with recognizably LGBTQI+
voices and increase exposure to vocal diversity.
"Voice-based discrimination still affects so many people,
especially within the LGBTQI+ community,” said David
Gonzalez Natal, LLYC’s Partner and Managing Director of LATAM
North. “When someone's voice doesn't fit societal
expectations, they can face prejudice and microaggressions, leading
many people to change the ways they speak or hide their true
voices. This only adds to the invisibility and stigma surrounding
recognizably LGBTQI+ voices, which is a shame because vocal
diversity should be celebrated."
LLYC worked with LGBTQI+ advocates around the world, including
Redi (Spain), Pride Connection Mexico, Casa Frida (Mexico), and the
Chamber of Diversity in Colombia, to ensure authenticity and avoid
perpetuating stereotypes during the synthetic voice design process.
After collecting the data, Monoceros Labs conducted a rigorous
anonymization and synthesis process to safeguard individual
identities while preserving the diversity of the voices created.
This approach ensured that people of all orientations, genders,
nationalities, accents, and age groups were involved, avoiding any
outside prejudices on what constitutes an authentic “LGBTQI+
voice.”
Alongside these voices, LLYC is launching the “Free the
Voices: Voice, Diversity, and Technology in the Age of AI”
report to explore how voice biases contribute to discrimination
against the LGBTQI+ community and examine how synthetic voice
technologies can mitigate these biases by increasing exposure to
diverse voices.
“The project shows how AI can be used to promote fairness and
diversity in all aspects of life,” Natal highlighted. “Everyone is
invited to explore the new synthetic voices, share their voices to
create new ones, and, most importantly, use them to help build a
more inclusive world.”
About LLYC
LLYC (BME:LLYC) is a global Corporate Affairs and Marketing
consulting firm that partners with its clients in creativity,
influence, and innovation to enhance and protect the value of their
businesses, turning every day into an opportunity to grow their
brands.
Founded in 1995, LLYC is present in the United States (Miami,
New York, San Diego, Washington, DC, Grand Rapids, Detroit, St.
Louis and Phoenix), Argentina, Brazil (São Paulo and Rio de
Janeiro), Brussels, Colombia, Chile, the Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Portugal and Spain (Madrid and
Barcelona).
In 2023, LLYC's operating revenues exceeded 83.1 million euros.
LLYC is ranked as one of the 40 largest communications companies
worldwide, according to PRWeek and PRovoke. LLYC was named the Top
Communications Consultant in Europe at the 2022 PRWeek Global
Awards and Communications Consultant of the Year in Latin America
in 2023 by PRovoke.
Press contact:
Sandra
Ramossandra.ramos@llyc.global
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/48da7dd9-b60a-41c3-8b1b-0a8cb6f7b1af