NAVA to Voice AI Concerns at San Diego Comic-Con

 – Following Recent Advocacy Wins, NAVA Leads Panel Discussion on Protecting Creators in Age of AI –

LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As creators continue to grapple with the impact of artificial intelligence on their livelihoods, the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA) is bringing its recent advocacy momentum to San Diego Comic-Con this week to ensure human voices aren't drowned out by advancing technology.

Following three years of sold out events, NAVA, a social impact non-profit, returns to SDCC on Saturday, July 26th, with its newly revamped panel, "Creators in the Age of AI." NAVA leadership, along with leading voice actors, directors, creatives, and entertainment professionals will discuss real-world experiences, examine emerging legislation and court rulings, and offer practical guidance on how creators can protect their work in an industry increasingly shaped by AI tools and datasets.

"We're at a critical stage in the advancement of AI where we, as voice actors, need to engage, understand the implications, and proactively seek frameworks that ensure the fair treatment of creators," said Tim Friedlander, NAVA president and co-founder, who will be participating in the panel. "This is about coming together as an industry to listen, collaborate, and move forward in a way that helps everyone succeed." 

NAVA's presence at Comic-Con comes on the heels of key advocacy wins in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento. The organization played a pivotal role in raising awareness around the successful removal of a proposed 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulation from the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill," (H.R. 1) a provision that would have severely limited the ability of states to protect creators.

"We're navigating uncharted territory when it comes to AI and creativity," said panelist and voice director Philip Bache. "By supporting one another and sharing knowledge, we can help build a future where innovation uplifts, not replaces, the human element."

The panel will be hosted by Linsay Rousseau (Voice Actor, Transformers: War for Cybertron, WWE 2K24, NAVA Director of Media Affairs), and will feature:

• Philip Bache (Voice Director, Life is Strange)
• JP Karliak (Voice Actor, X-Men 97, The Smurfs, President of QueerVox)
• Phillip Boutté, Jr. (Concept Artist/Costume Designer, Marvel's Black Panther, DC's Blue Beetle, Co-founder of 9B Collective, Costume Designers Guild Local 892)
• Tim Friedlander (Voice Actor, Like A Dragon, Record of Ragnarok, NAVA President and co-founder, owner/founder SoundBox:LA)
• Matthew Parham (Voice Actor, NAVA Dir. of Operations, Poet, MC/Musician)

Panel Details: 

"Creators in the Age of AI"
Omni Grand Ballroom DE, 4th Floor
Saturday, July 26 | 4 - 5 p.m. PT

Media Inquiries (Panel-Related):

Linsay Rousseau
NAVA Director of Media Affairs
747-999-5467
[email protected] 

About NAVA

The National Association of Voice Actors is a social impact non-profit dedicated to advocating for and advancing the voice acting industry through action, education, inclusion, and benefits. To learn more or become a member, visit www.navavoices.org.

General Media Inquiries:

Evan Pondel
Triunfo Partners
(818) 527-6280
[email protected] 

SOURCE National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA)