Adapting to AI: A voice artist's take on creative survival
Some creatives resist technology until it sidelines them. Pocholo De Leon Gonzales did the opposite. He learned the tools early, reframed his craft, and used AI to scale his voice and his message. His mantra is simple: your growth protects you.
A UP Diliman graduate in Speech Communication with a Master's in Broadcast Communications, Gonzales built his career at the intersection of artistry and advocacy. He founded Voice of the Youth Network (1996) and CreatiVoices Productions (2005) to give people a platform-and a path-to be heard.
Rizal, reintroduced for a screen-native generation
AI gave Gonzales the means to revive an idea he'd held for decades: bring José Rizal into the present in a way people will actually use. In 2024, he launched "Conversations with Rizal," an AI-driven project that pulls from the national hero's diaries, novels, and historical documents. The aim: keep Rizal accurate, yet relevant to today's questions.
He followed it up with an animated AI series in 2025 featuring Rizal as the narrator of his own story-for kids and adults. His intent is clear: every Filipino youth should carry a living sense of Rizal's values, not just a textbook summary. For context on Rizal's life and works, see this overview from an authoritative reference.
Ownership over fear
Some creatives say AI is competition. Gonzales sees scale and permanence. "Voice isn't just for entertainment," he says. "It's for education. It's for transformation. And now, it's for immortality."
Inside his Certified Voice Artist Program (CVAP), he teaches talent to think like owners. License your voice. Protect your IP. Build products, not just projects. Legislation may change; ownership endures.
He even cloned his own voice using ElevenLabs to teach, host, and inspire on demand. As he puts it, "Pocholo, on repeat, and on purpose." Then he adds: "This isn't ego. It's my legacy-with AI."
Bridging tech and storytelling for the public
Gonzales launched "The AI Talks with The VoiceMaster," the first Filipino radio and podcast program to blend human voice, AI education, and Filipino storytelling. It airs on Radyo Pilipinas and streams on Spotify. The show turns complex ideas into clear, practical explanations that regular listeners can apply.
In November 2025, the program received Asia's Most Innovative AI Program on Radio and Spotify at Asia's Pinnacle Awards. Funding is still a hurdle-many projects are self-financed. He presses on anyway, calling himself a present-day Rizal in spirit: learn, teach, repeat.
What creatives can use today
- Build an IP moat: Register trademarks, license your voice/assets, and put contracts in place that cover AI training, cloning, and derivative use.
- Productize your craft: Turn your skills into packages-voice packs, character libraries, educational modules, or short-format series.
- Create a digital twin (with consent and control): If you clone your voice or style, keep audit trails of consent, terms, and usage. Watermark outputs and set limits in writing.
- Teach as you create: Distill what you learn about AI into content-radio, podcast, short videos, live workshops. Education compounds your reach.
- Distribute everywhere: Radio, streaming, social-ship small, consistent pieces. Let the audience decide what to scale.
- Measure what matters: Track conversion to gigs, licensing deals, or subscribers-not just views. Double down on formats that pay.
- Stay human: Authenticity beats tricks. Your taste, judgment, and voice are the differentiators tools can't copy.
The stance that endures
Gonzales isn't waiting for a system to "save" creatives. He's building skills, assets, and platforms that outlast trends. His reminder to voice artists applies to all creatives: "Voice acting is not real acting-it's the art of becoming. Don't work for AI. Work with AI."
Want structured ways to build AI skills for creative work? Explore a curated path for professionals here: AI Learning Path for Training & Development Managers.
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