The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched the Voice Cloning Challenge, with a prize of up to $25,000 for the most promising idea to prevent, monitor, and evaluate malicious AI vocal cloning abuses. As deepfake technology advances, scammers are exploiting it for their gains, posing a risk to unsuspecting victims and causing potential harm to creative professionals whose work can be imitated cheaply. To address this issue, the FTC initiated the Voice Cloning Challenge in November 2023, seeking breakthrough ideas in combating vocal cloning.
To participate, contestants must submit written proposals that include a less-than-one page abstract and a detailed description under 10 pages in length. They can also submit a video clip demonstrating their idea. Judges will evaluate each submission based on its feasibility, focus on reducing consumer burden and liability, and potential resilience in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
The contest places emphasis on three areas of vocal cloning concerns: prevention or authentication methods, real-time detection or monitoring capabilities, and post-use evaluation options. Projects addressing at least one of these areas will be considered for the grand prize of $25,000, along with a $4,000 runner-up award and up to three honorable mentions of $2,000 each.
This challenge marks the fifth contest overseen by the FTC through the America Competes Act, which funds competitions that promote technological innovation. Previous contests have focused on reducing illegal robocalls and enhancing security for Internet of Things users.
Winners of the Voice Cloning Challenge will be announced within 90 days after the contest deadline. It is important to note that any submissions involving actual examples of AI vocal cloning must have obtained the consent of the source human, as unauthorized cloning will result in immediate disqualification.
By encouraging breakthrough ideas and innovative solutions, the FTC aims to address the growing threat of vocal cloning abuses and protect individuals from scams while fostering a secure and trustworthy technological landscape.
The source of the article is from the blog kunsthuisoaleer.nl