The AI dubbing introduced by Amazon Prime Video may satisfy movie enthusiasts but could provoke discontent among voice actors.

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      Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

      Amazon Prime Video is planning to utilize AI for dubbing foreign language films and shows into English and Latin American Spanish. The company has initiated a pilot program that incorporates "AI-aided" dubbing for 12 licensed movies and series, including titles like El Cid: La Leyenda, Mi Mamá Lora, and Long Lost. Amazon states that this pilot employs a hybrid dubbing method "where localization professionals work alongside AI to maintain quality control," and emphasizes that its AI-assisted process will only be used on content that lacks existing dubbing support. I contacted Amazon to inquire about the involvement of the creators of the 12 pilot movies and series in this process, but had not received a reply by the time this article was published.

      Please enable Javascript to view this content. Many film enthusiasts hold the view that watching a dubbed version of a foreign language film or series diminishes the artistry involved. Since an actor's performance is a mix of physical expression, vocal delivery, and emphasis, experiencing the entirety of that performance is crucial, even if subtitles are needed for comprehension. If AI dubbing could successfully retain 100% of that performance while translating it into another language, it could transform the experience of watching dubbed films. Conversely, AI dubbing poses a risk to the livelihoods of professional voice actors. In 2023, voice actors raised their concerns through the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA), which advised them never to concede synthesis rights to clients and to seek assistance from their union or an attorney if they suspect their rights might be compromised. Among their worries were that studios might utilize AI to modify dialogue lines, essentially obtaining new performances from actors without the need to bring them back into the recording studio (or compensating them for it).

      Amazon is not the first organization to implement AI-based dubbing. In 2023, Spotify launched a tool using OpenAI's technology that allowed it to clone the voices of its podcast hosts for dubbing in other languages. This technology has rapidly advanced. In 2024, OpenAI claimed it required only 15 seconds of audio samples to create an AI clone of someone's voice. Just months later, Microsoft, which has heavily invested in OpenAI, disclosed that its own cutting-edge AI voice model, VALL-E 2, was deemed too risky to launch due to its realism, raising concerns about potential misuse.

      Simon Cohen is a contributing editor for Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he focuses intently on the latest wireless technology.

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      There is a vast array of films available on Amazon Prime Video, but not every one of them is noteworthy. In fact, one of the significant challenges for Amazon lies in distinguishing great films from mediocre ones. As I chose this month's selections for three must-watch dramas on Amazon Prime Video, I found myself scrolling for quite a while. The first selection is a wartime narrative based on actual events, the second is a romantic drama intertwined with elements of sci-fi fantasy, and our final pick is a historical drama revolving around a 16th-century courtesan who may be too intelligent and progressive for her own good.

      Looking for more suggestions? We also provide guides to the top films on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Max, and Disney+.

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      That’s why it can be useful to prioritize based on what will no longer be available in a few days. If you plan to choose your next film this way, we suggest starting with After Hours, which will be leaving Prime Video at the end of February. The film follows an uptown New Yorker who encounters a series of wild events as he attempts to find his way home one night in New York. Here are three reasons to check it out.

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      Recent highlights include films such as In the Land of Saints and Sinners starring Liam Neeson and the sci-fi epic The Creator. Although the selection on the streaming service can be daunting, this guide simplifies the task by spotlighting some of the