Actor Ned Luke, best known for his role as Michael De Santa in "GTA 5," has lashed out at an AI company that released an unlicensed voice chat bot based on the character, successfully getting the bot in question removed from the Internet (first discovered by PCGamesN).

AI company WAME had tweeted a link to their Michael chatbot on January 14 with this text: "GTA fans, take your gaming experience to another level right now, have a realistic voice conversation with GTA 5's protagonist, Michael De Santa! Let's try it!" He tweeted with the text.

Unfortunately for WAME, this immediately caught Luke's attention. Says Luke (no doubt hearing it in Michael's voice), "Fuck WAME." 'It's not cool at all to fool people by recreating my voice on a computer. Don't waste your time on this garbage."

Luke also tagged Rockstar Games and the SAG-AFTRA union since the chatbot and the tweets promoting it were deleted. Fellow actors, including Roger Clarke, have been sympathetic about how bad this kind of stuff sucks, and our boy didn't end up a long way:

"I'm not worried about being replaced, Roger," Luke says. 'I just don't like these fuckers. And I'm pissed that our shitty union is so weak that this will soon become a legitimate job issue.

Luke is referring here to the recent SAG-AFTRA "ethical AI" agreement.11]

Musician Marilou A. Burnell (no relation to WAME) suggests, "Creative people make amazing things with AI, but the opposite is also true."

"I am a creative person, and I am a creative person.

"By not using my voice, they won't," says Luke.

Really, well said; the WAME website has the usual Web 3 blurb that its technology will "enhance our unique identity and potential" and "showcase your personal journey," along with a Blade Runner-esque clip of a dead-eyed AI bot The site is published along with the following. Since the backlash against Michaelbot, WAME has issued a statement expressing "deep understanding and concern."

Deep understanding and concern. They stole the man's voice.

"This case highlights the complex interrelationship between advances in AI technology and the ethical and legal realm," says WAME. If you think that's breathtaking, read this: "WAME is committed to protecting the rights of voice actors and creators while advancing ethical AI practices. Utterly brilliant stuff.

There is a huge ethical debate over AI, and it will probably continue for the rest of our lives. But in cases like this, I want to take Luke's side. Sometimes I hate the companies behind all this.