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In case you missed it, video game voice actors just came off a long strike, with one of the biggest sticking points in negotiations being protections from their performances being used to train AI. However, the fight to ensure that AI doesn’t replace actors is still ongoing, and the actor who portrayed Ash in Pokémon starting in 1998 has some simple advice on how fans can make sure human actors continue to play their favorite characters.

The conversation came up while Veronica Taylor, who played Ash Ketchum for eight seasons, was speaking on the Pokémon Cast Reunion Panel at Florida Supercon 2025. “I think it's up to all of us,” she said. “No matter what profession you have, to avoid the AI. Because right now, we’re allowed to keep coming back to our jobs because we haven’t been replaced… yet. I think it is a good moment to just say, be aware of where your money is going, what you are buying, and are they using AI? The video game strike has just ended because we were fighting for the companies to not train AI on our voices. To not replace us with AI whenever they wanted to.”

Even though the actors managed to secure this important protection for now, Taylor acknowledges that the real battle for the future of art takes place not on the picket line but in the checkout line. “So, it is up to all of us to speak with our wallets and be sure that we protect that.”

You can see the full Florida Supercon 2025 panel here.

 Want to find out how you can Catch 'em All? Check out our Pokémon anime watch order.