'Robbing me': Morgan Freeman frustrated over AI copying him
What's the story
Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman has expressed his displeasure over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to recreate his voice and likeness. In an interview with The Guardian, he said that such imitations are "robbing" him as they take away opportunities for which he gets paid. He also revealed that his legal team is currently handling several cases related to this issue.
Actor's perspective
'Don't mimic me with falseness...': Freeman
Freeman said, "I'm a little PO'd (pissed off), you know. I'm like any other actor: don't mimic me with falseness. I don't appreciate it and I get paid for doing stuff like that, so if you're gonna do it without me, you're robbing me." He also dismissed the idea of retirement, saying he would continue working as long as offers come in.
Industry implications
Freeman's thoughts on AI actors; Michael Caine's partnership
Freeman also shared his thoughts on AI-generated actors, specifically Tilly Norwood, one of 40 avatars being launched by AI talent studio Xicoia. He said, "Nobody likes her because she's not real and that takes the part of a real person." "The union's job is to keep actors acting, so there's gonna be that conflict." Despite these concerns, Freeman's frequent collaborator Michael Caine has recently partnered with ElevenLabs to preserve and share his voice using AI technology.