Dragon Ball's Goku Voice Actor Slams AI Videos: 'It Has No Heart'

Masako Nozawa, the legendary voice behind Dragon Ball's Goku for over 40 years, calls unauthorized AI voice clones 'unforgivable' and equivalent to theft, arguing AI can't replicate real emotion.

You know that voice. The one that's been yelling "Kamehameha" for decades. Now the legendary actor behind it is speaking out, and she's not holding back.

Masako Nozawa, who has voiced Goku in Dragon Ball for over 40 years, recently blasted unauthorized AI videos that clone her voice, according to Dexerto. In an interview with NHK, the 89-year-old called the practice unforgivable and flat-out compared it to theft. Since 1986, Nozawa has also brought Gohan, Goten, and other core Dragon Ball characters to life, making her one of Japan's most respected performers.

Her point is simple: AI can copy a voice, but it can't copy a soul. Even if the tone is nearly perfect, she says the emotion behind the performance can't be replicated. "It has no heart," she said. "No matter the character, acting without genuine feeling is meaningless. Even a single cry—real emotion and AI simulation are completely different." She stressed that the rights to a voice and a performance belong to the performer, and anyone who wants to reuse that voice should get permission first.

That said, Nozawa isn't anti-AI across the board. She even recorded a video supporting a new set of AI voice guidelines from the Japan Actors Union (Nichienren). The rules require prior consent from performers for every stage—AI training, generation, and public release of voice content—along with proper compensation. They also address the ethical use of deceased performers' voices.

Nozawa isn't alone in this fight. In recent years, multiple Japanese anime voice actors have raised concerns about AI voice cloning, and English Dragon Ball voice actors have previously dealt with AI imitation controversies too. The voice acting community is increasingly confronting the rights challenges that come with AI tech.

So what do you think—should performers have the final say over their AI-cloned voices? Let us know in the comments.