Amazon halts AI anime dub 'beta' after widespread ridicule

Amazon appears to have quietly removed its truly terrible AI-generated English dubs for several anime shows currently streaming on Prime Video, following widespread (and entirely fair) ridicule from viewers and industry professionals. AI dubs were recently added to Banana Fish, No Game, No Life and Vinland Saga, where they were labeled "AI beta" in the Languages section of the app.

As shows that previously only offered English subtitles, the option of a dub for those who prefer it could have been seen as a win for Amazon. But it quickly became clear that the dubs were unspeakably bad, completely devoid of any emotion or convincing intonation in dramatic moments. Particularly awful clips of the AI English dub for Banana Fish soon started circulating on social media, and the National Association of Voice Actors released a statement in which it branded the dubs "AI slop."

In his own statement ...