AI voice cloning firm collapses in Chapter 7 bankruptcy - AOL.com
A fake video of John Harbaugh discussing his firing highlights the risks of AI voice cloning as the platform Lovo Inc enters Chapter 7 bankruptcy amid a lawsuit
- Incident date
- Jun 2026
- Target
- John Harbaugh
A realistic but fabricated video depicting John Harbaugh discussing his termination by the Baltimore Ravens recently circulated online, causing confusion among viewers who believed the coach had been hired by the New York Giants. This incident underscores the growing concern regarding the misuse of AI-generated content to spread misinformation through synthetic media. While some AI voice applications, such as the use of Al Michaels' voice for Olympic recaps, are performed with explicit permission, the proliferation of unauthorized deepfakes has created significant legal and ethical challenges.
What happened
The video of John Harbaugh serves as a prominent example of the dangers associated with realistic AI voice cloning, where technology is used to simulate human speech without authorization. The issue gained further legal complexity with the case of Lovo Inc., an AI voiceover generator platform. Lovo Inc. faced a putative class-action lawsuit filed by voice actors Paul Lehrman and Linnea Sage, who alleged that the company synthesized and sold unauthorized clones of their voices. The plaintiffs asserted claims for violations of New York civil rights and consumer protection laws, the Lanham Act, and the Copyright Act, alongside allegations of fraud and conversion.
On May 27, 2026, Lovo Inc. filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Following the filing, Judge J. Paul Oetken stayed the pending lawsuit on June 11, halting proceedings ahead of a scheduled hearing. The company, which reported approximately $245,224 in assets and $17,788 in liabilities, is now undergoing liquidation. This bankruptcy filing effectively stalls the legal test case, leaving unresolved the pressing question of who holds ownership over a person's voice in the era of artificial intelligence. Experts note that as technology becomes more believable, the ability to protect one's identity from unauthorized cloning remains a difficult challenge for both celebrities and ordinary citizens.