Singer FKA Twigs says she developed her own deepfake technology during a Senate hearing

British singer FKA Twigs said during Senate testimony to push for regulation of artificial intelligence that she created her own version of a deepfake of herself.

In written testimony before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Twigs said she developed the fake version of herself over the past year that she would use to communicate with her fans online while spending more time “making art.” She said that the fake version of herself was trained to speak with her voice in many languages.

“Well, over the last year, I created an AI version of myself that can use exactly the tone of my voice to speak multiple languages. I did this to be able to reach more of my fans and to be able to talk to them and learn the nuances of their language,” she said at the hearing. “I'm currently exploring French, Korean, and Japanese, which is really exciting for me.”

“It means that even with my next album, I can really explain in depth, in depth what it's about creatively,” she added.

The hearing, titled “Protecting Americans from Unauthorized Digital Copies,” heard from several witnesses about the potential effects online digital copies can have. Twigs, whose name is Tahlia DeBrett Barnett, called for more regulation of these online deepfakes during her testimony on Tuesday.

She explained how there are songs circulating online with her and other artists that she didn't make, saying it makes her feel “vulnerable.” She said that if legislation was not put in place to “protect artists”, it would mean fans “would not be able to trust people who have spent so many years” investing in them.

She described how surprised she was when she had to explain why artists should be given more protection regarding deepfakes.

“I'm amazed that we're having this conversation because it seems so painfully obvious to me that it's hard to even find the language if I'm being completely honest with you,” the “Cellophane” singer said.

“Ultimately, what it boils down to is my soul, my art and my brand. It's my brand and I've spent years developing it and it's mine. It's not anyone else's – to be used in a commercial or cultural sense or even just for laughs. You know, I'm me. I'm a human being and we need to protect that”.

In which Written certificate Presented before the session, she also explained how she developed a “very fake version” of herself that was coached on her personality and tone of voice.

“These and similar emerging technologies are highly valuable tools both artistically and commercially when under the control of the artist. What is unacceptable is for my art and identity to be appropriated by a third party and falsely exploited for their own gain,” she said in the written statement. Without my consent due to the lack of appropriate legislative oversight.”