How are authors and audiobook narrators navigating the AI landscape—and how might they collaborate better with each other? The Authors Guild and the National Association of Voice Actors invite you to a joint conversation about AI, copyright concerns, and how to confidently navigate working with collaborators in a world filled with AI tools.

We’ll be joined by Miriam Lord of the U.S. Copyright Office, who will address what authors and narrators should know about AI and copyright—what should be agreed to contractually, and what does the copyright process protect?

NAVA president Tim Friedlander and Authors Guild director of policy and advocacy Umair Kazi will discuss recommendations for writers and voice actors who may wish to use AI tools or perhaps preclude their projects from using AI at all. We will also discuss what the process looks like for an indie author and narrator to work together on a fully self-published book.

Special thanks to the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA) for collaborating with the Authors Guild Foundation on this series. NAVA is a social impact non-profit association created to advocate and promote the advancement of the voice acting industry through action, education, inclusion, and benefits.

Panelists

Tim Friedlander is a voice actor, musician, educator, and studio owner based in Los Angeles, known for his talent and advocacy on behalf of the creative industry. As the president and co-founder of the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA), and one of the co-founders of the new Creators Coalition on AI (CCAI), Tim has tirelessly championed for artists’ rights around the globe.

As a voice actor, Tim is known for his work on titles such as Hunter x Hunter, One Punch Man, and his portrayal of Long Caster in Ace Combat 7. His performance as the English voice of Ares in the Netflix series Record of Ragnarok and as the English Voice of “Daigo Dojima” in the new Like A Dragon video game series have garnered attention and awards.

As founder of the soundBOX:Studio Group, Tim operates out of his studio, soundBOX:LA, and has strived to create studio environments that are safe, inspiring, and professional. With three locations in Los Angeles and one in Boston, his team has been a resource for voice actors for almost a decade.

Tim has been quoted in such outlets as the LA Times, WIRED, the NY Times, and the BBC and has presented to the UN Emerging Tech Committee, the FTC, and participated in the 2024 AI Summit on Deepfakes at the White House hosted by the NSA. His work in advocacy has taken him to Capitol Hill for over 100 meetings with lawmakers fighting for the rights of all Americans to own their voice, image, name, and likeness on a federal level. 

Represented by Atlas Talent in Los Angeles and New York, as well as ACM Talent Management in LA and New York, Tim is a driving force in the creative industry, leaving an indelible mark with his talent, passion, and dedication.

Umair Kazi is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Authors Guild. He studied law at the University of Iowa, and creative writing at Columbia University.

Miriam Lord is the Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Public Information and Education for the United States Copyright Office. She’s an expert copyright attorney and one of four legal advisors to the Register of Copyrights. She oversees the authoritative copyright information the Office provides to the public through strategic communication and education programs and initiatives at all levels.

Before joining the Office, Lord was the Director of the Global Intellectual Property Academy at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office within the Office of Policy and International Affairs, providing domestic and international intellectual property capacity-building and technical assistance for education policy and programs. Previously, she was the Director of the Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, providing pro bono legal assistance to artists, start-ups and creative nonprofits.

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