It’s not just “press record”: a viewpoint for providing ethical voice banking

Voice banking technologies are increasingly used to support individuals at risk of losing natural speech due to progressive or acquired conditions. While recent advances in AI-based voice cloning have expanded access to synthetic voice creation, these developments also raise important clinical, ethical, and relational considerations. This paper reframes voice banking through the lens of speech-language pathologists and other professionals involved in implementing this intervention, arguing that the process is not merely technical but also tied to preserving identity, autonomy, and human connection. Drawing on current perspectives and emerging practice, we explore challenges related to consent, posthumous voice use, data quality, and equity in access. We examine how voice banking intersects with linguistic identity, and why some individuals may make informed choices to decline. The emotional labor of clinicians facilitating these conversations in complex contexts is also highlighted, alongside the need for adequate professional supports. The paper calls for co-designed, inclusive systems that can accommodate diverse speech profiles and clinical contexts. Ultimately, ethical voice banking depends not just on technological capability, but on values-driven, person-centered care. Clinicians play a pivotal role in ensuring these tools are implemented thoughtfully, with attention to the relational dimensions of communication.