ScotRail is working to rectify its AI train announcer, named Iona, following allegations that it uses a woman's voice without her consent, according to First Minister John Swinney.

The issue arose after Scottish voiceover artist Gayanne Potter claimed that the publicly-owned rail operator based Iona on recordings she made in 2021.

Responding to concerns raised by Fiona Hyslop, Swinney stated, "The Transport Secretary tells me they’re fixing it, so they will be fixing it."

Ms Potter has welcomed this commitment as a “meaningful step forward”.

The issue was raised at First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood, with Scottish Conservative MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane asking if it is how the Scottish Government – which took ScotRail into public ownership in 2022 – “supports actors”.

The Tory pressed the case with Mr Swinney after Ms Potter, in a widely shared Facebook post, accused ScotRail of dismissing her concerns.

She said Iona came from voice data held by Swedish-based company ReadSpeaker, who she did recordings for in 2021 – adding that by using her voice in an AI model the company had acted outside of the terms of her agreement with them.

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Ms Potter spoke of her “distress” at discovering Scotland had “installed the ReadSpeaker model ‘Iona’ that contains my biometric voice data as their new announcer on all their trains”.

She insisted: “I did not know. I was not asked. I did not consent.”

Mr Swinney said he is “sure” the rail operator will be “engaging constructively with all concerned”.

He added: “I think sometimes these things do indeed need careful handling and I am sure ScotRail will be doing exactly that.”

Following the First Minister’s comments, a spokeswoman for Ms Potter told the PA news agency: “We welcome the fact that the First Minister acknowledged the issue at hand and confirmed that ScotRail ‘will be fixing it’.

“While the language may not be definitive at this stage, this public commitment is a meaningful step forward for Gayanne, and other artists in her position.

“That said, this case isn’t just about hiring Scottish actors. It’s about the use of a real actor’s voice without her informed consent, and the broader need for ethical standards in the deployment of AI voice technology.

“We now hope that ‘fixing it’ will include direct engagement with Gayanne, proper accountability from those responsible, and a clear commitment to ensuring that consent, transparency, and fair treatment become non-negotiable in the use of AI by public bodies.

“The public sector needs to be rigorous in their procurement of AI solutions and the commercial partnerships they strike with AI companies.”

Ms Potter’s representative said the voice actress had been told by ScotRail earlier this week that the matter was between her and ReadSpeaker.

She said they would request that ScotRail cease using “Iona”, adding: “Any use of Gayanne’s or anyone else’s voice through AI must be based on her full, informed consent and agreed upon under fair conditions.”

ReadSpeaker has said it has a contract to use her voice and its legal team has “comprehensively” addressed Ms Potter’s concerns.

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