No Attitude, No Future: The Real Talk Voice Talents Need About AI

Pocholo De Leon Gonzales, The VoiceMaster

Artificial Intelligence is no longer knocking on the door—it has already moved in. It’s in audiobooks, explainer videos, mobile apps, e-learning platforms, podcasts, and even in the cartoons children love. But here's the twist: many of those voices people hear today? They’re not human at all.

Pocholo De Leon Gonzales is also known as The VoiceMaster of the Philippines. With over 30 years in the voice acting industry, he’s trained thousands, built studios, created careers, and helped shape the local and global voice landscape. Now, he’s bringing an unfiltered message that the voice acting world needs to hear—one that's raw, direct, and deeply relevant in the age of AI.

🎭 “AI will steal our jobs!”

That’s the cry of many voice artists today. Fears run high as synthetic voices rise in popularity and quality. But according to Gonzales, the real threat isn’t AI—it’s stagnation.

He points out that while technology evolves, some talents are stuck in time, still using demo reels from 2010 and waiting for auditions like it's 2005. “The industry doesn’t owe you a career,” Gonzales says. “AI is not replacing talents—it’s replacing the lazy, the entitled, and the unprepared.”

🤖 “AI has no heart!”

That may be true, Gonzales admits—but AI also has no attitude.

Unlike some humans in the industry, AI doesn’t demand special treatment, harbor jealousy, or spread toxicity. It doesn’t steal event names, ride on trends, or copy others to appear relevant. It just shows up and does the job.

This, he says, is where many in the industry fall short. While decrying the rise of synthetic voices, many of the same individuals use AI to create avatars, enhance content, or write scripts using tools like ChatGPT. The result? Hypocrisy. “If you hate AI so much, stop using it,” Gonzales says. “You’re not a purist—you’re just a poser.”

🧠 Training That’s Outdated and Dangerous

Gonzales also calls out the numerous voice workshops and conventions that continue to rake in money while offering outdated training. Many of these programs still focus only on mic techniques and reading scripts—ignoring essential topics like AI voice platforms (e.g., ElevenLabs, Murf AI, Tomato AI) or voice cloning safety.

Even worse, some of these educators are known AI skeptics—yet secretly use AI tools themselves and borrow concepts from the very pioneers they once mocked. To Gonzales, these aren’t mentors; they’re gatekeepers clinging to a past that no longer exists.

🚀 Adapt or Be Left Behind

In today’s landscape, Gonzales believes that voice artists must evolve into more than just vocal performers. They must become:

• Sound Architects

• Digital Storytellers

• Voice Engineers in the Age of AI

This transformation is no longer optional—it’s necessary. Gonzales didn’t resist when the cassette died. He didn’t panic when home studios emerged. He embraced the future, partnered with top AI companies like ElevenLabs, Murf AI, Tomato AI, Cartesia AI, and OpenAI, and ensured that Filipino voices don’t just survive—they lead in the AI revolution.

❌ Draw the Line

Gonzales challenges voice artists and mentors alike: if they truly reject AI, then they should refrain from using it in any form—no ChatGPT, no AI avatars, no synthetic voice tools.

And if they’re offering voice workshops that fail to address AI or digital transformation, they are misleading their students. “You’re training people for a world that no longer exists,” Gonzales declares. “That’s not mentorship. That’s myth-making.”

💥 The VoiceMaster’s Stand

Pocholo Gonzales doesn’t sugarcoat his message. He’s not here to comfort the industry—he’s here to confront it.

According to him, what the voice world needs isn’t another motivational speaker. It needs leaders who tell the truth, walk the talk, and build the future.

AI won’t destroy voice acting. But it will eliminate the excuses, the laziness, and the outdated practices that have held many back. Gonzales urges everyone in the industry to ask themselves:

“Kasama ka ba? O isa ka sa mga naiwan?”

For those ready to rise, adapt, and truly grow, Gonzales invites them to the Certified Voice Artist Program (CVAP)—a movement he founded to go beyond vocal training, and into purpose-driven, tech-empowered transformation.

He doesn’t hide behind aliases or borrowed identities. He is Pocholo De Leon Gonzales, The VoiceMaster and The AI VoiceMaster. He built his name, his brand, and his legacy—through authenticity, innovation, and a fierce love for the craft.

And for anyone still wondering who's leading this industry?

Ask Google: Who’s the best Filipino voice talent?

Then decide—will you rise with the future, or be left behind by it?