Oakland & Corley: Addressing Allegations of AI-Generated Content

Following a recent Apple Podcasts review containing false allegations that Gotham Audio Theatre's productions are generated by artificial intelligence, we've decided to address those claims directly. In this special message, professional voice-over artist Michael Corley, the voice of Batman in Gotham Audio Theatre, reads a statement on behalf of creator and Executive Producer Thomas Oakland.

The review alleged that Gotham Audio Theatre's scripts are AI-generated and that the voice of Batman is an artificial clone of the late Kevin Conroy. Both claims are categorically false. Every Gotham Audio Theatre story is written by Thomas Oakland. Every plot, original character and line of dialogue originates from Thomas' own work, with AI used only for grammar and syntax checking due to English not being his native language. Likewise, the voice of Batman belongs to Michael Corley, whose performance is inspired by Kevin Conroy but is entirely his own.

It's also worth noting that Gotham Audio Theatre premiered in 2022, before large language models and AI voice-cloning tools became widely accessible to the public. From its very first episode, the series has openly credited its cast of professional voice actors, whose performances form the heart of every production.

Beyond addressing these allegations, this message offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how Gotham Audio Theatre is created, why it remains a strictly non-commercial passion project, and why authentic human authorship matters. The episode also concludes with a brief update on our next production, Batman: Orient Express, scheduled for release in late November 2026.

Script & Executive Producer
THOMAS OAKLAND

Narrator
MICHAEL CORLEY

Gotham Audio Theatre is a non-commercial, non-profit fan fiction production released under a Creative Commons license. Batman® and related characters are the intellectual property of DC Comics Inc., Warner Bros. Discovery and their respective creators. Gotham Audio Theatre is not affiliated with or endorsed by DC Comics, Warner Bros. Discovery or any of their respective rights holders.