Cristian Volpato Grants Callandor Exclusive AI Rights at 22 as Athletes Race to Monetize Consent
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 24
Cristian Volpato Grants Callandor Exclusive AI Rights at 22 as Athletes Race to Monetize Consent
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 24
Summary
Mid-September brought Volpato’s deal with California-based Callandor, giving the startup exclusive rights to his AI likeness, voice, biometric profiles and performance data for commercial use.
Callandor says the 22-year-old Socceroo’s “synthetic twin” can secure brand work around the clock while helping block unapproved AI content that uses his identity.
Founded in February, the company is piloting campaigns and pitching uses beyond ads, including foreign-language voiceovers, fan-interaction apps and coaching tools built around an athlete’s digital clone.
The agreement lands as Australian sport grapples with consent: the AFL earlier this month told Sportsbet to stop using AI player images after a union complaint.
Lawyers and startups say the market is moving faster than regulation, with existing protections against unauthorized deepfakes limited and permission itself emerging as a new commercial asset.