The SNP‘s nationalised rail service is scrapping the use of its AI station ‘announcer’ following a row with a renowned Scots voiceover artist.
In an embarrassing climbdown, ScotRail is set to remove the AI voice of ‘Iona’, which was based on that of real-life actor Gayanne Potter, after complaints from the public and ‘very concerned’ ministers.
In May trained voiceover professional Ms Potter from Edinburgh hit out at the company after learning her voice data had been introduced on Scotland’s trains without her permission.
ScotRail initially insisted it had no plans to change the voice – claiming Ms Potter’s dispute was with a foreign company called Readspeaker that held her voice data from a recording in 2021.
Now, in a victory for the actor, The Daily Mail can reveal an ‘alternative voice’ is being sourced by Transport Scotland.
The move was last night welcomed by her union, Equity, who said: ‘Gayanne Potter would welcome ScotRail changing the Iona voice.
‘As a union, Equity has serious concerns about the use of AI in performance and audio work. We are advocating a system based on transparency, consent and fair remuneration for professional artists.’
And Scots Tory MSP Sandesh Gulhane said: ‘The SNP should be championing homegrown talent, not overlooking the pressures this sector faces or deferring action until flaws are exposed.
Actor Gayanne Potter hit out after ScotRail used an AI version of her voice without permission
The ‘AI clone’ was called Iona and was based on voice data recorded by Ms Potter in 2021
ScotRail initially claimed it had no plans to change the AI voice despite Ms Potter’s concerns
‘ScotRail must replace the artificial AI voice currently used in announcements with authentic Scottish voices, delivered by skilled Scottish voice actors.’
The row emerged after Ms Potter realised Readspeaker had used her voice data to create a text-to-speech programme fronted by an AI-generated Scottish character called Iona.
It was only after she read Press reports that she learned the voice, based on her own, was being introduced across ScotRail trains.
Ms Potter then shared an angry post online accusing the nationalised train operator of dismissing her concerns, asking: ‘Why continue to choose a dreadful AI version of me when I’m right here?’.
‘It’s not about money,’ she said at the time, adding: ‘It’s about my identity. I feel violated. My voice may be something I use as a tool, but it’s also my personal data and I should have control over that.’
Amid widespread debate about the move to use the AI voice, 78 members of the public complained to ScotRail, freedom of information responses show.
ScotRail – which was brought under public ownership by Nicola Sturgeon in 2022 – initially defended the new announcements, saying that they ‘give us flexibility’ and that there were ‘no plans to remove the voice’.
However, emails obtained between ministers and officials reveal that the state-owned operator U-turned after SNP ministers objected.
ScotRail was nationalised under Nicola Sturgeon in 2022 and has been beset by problems
Scots Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop was said to be ‘very concerned’ about the AI voice
ScotRail is implementing a different ‘voice’ ‘as soon as practicable’, Transport Scotland says
On 27 May 2025, when actor Ms Potter spoke out about the debacle, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop was said to be ‘very concerned about this’, and ‘asked if there are any options here’.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead then contacted Ms Hyslop, demanding to know ‘why ScotRail has chosen to use an AI generated voice’.
The following week, Transport Scotland rail chief Bill Reeve wrote to Ms Hyslop, saying: ‘Following discussions with the SRH Chief Executive, we have now received an updated recommendation from ScotRail Trains to change the current AI generated voice’.
When Ms Potter first spoke out, Readspeaker said she had been ‘informed of ReadSpeaker’s intended use of the recordings for the purposes outlined in the contract, including commercial use of the synthetic voice’.
It said it had acted ‘ethically and lawfully and that Ms Potter ‘was fairly paid for her voice talent services’. This week a spokeswoman declined to comment further.
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: ‘While subcontracts are a matter for ScotRail, this issue was raised directly with Ministers, both in correspondence and in Parliament, therefore it is entirely normal that information on the subject was provided to them.
‘Our understanding is that ScotRail is working to make changes to the system, and this includes implementing an alternative ‘voice’ as soon as practicable.’
A ScotRail spokesman said: ‘ScotRail is continuing to work with ReadSpeaker on the matter, and while there is no update at present, we do expect to be able to provide a further update in the coming weeks.’