Actor Defends Against Misuse - Morgan Freeman and SAG-AFTRA fight back against AI voice theft and fake actors
In a significant development, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing film and TV actors, has condemned the creation of a computer-generated actress named 'Tilly Norwood'. This move comes amidst growing concerns about the unauthorized use of celebrities' likeness and voice by artificial intelligence. Veteran actor Morgan Freeman has been one of the prominent figures affected by this issue.
Morgan Freeman's legal team has been busy dealing with 'quite a few' cases of AI voice imitations. The actor, known for his distinctive voice, has become a prime target for AI exploitation. Freeman expressed his upset about the unauthorized use of his voice, stating that his concern is twofold: financial loss and artistic integrity. His lawyers are actively tracking down and removing AI-generated imitations of his voice.
SAG-AFTRA shares Freeman's concerns. The organization believes that audiences are not interested in computer-generated content divorced from human experience. They see AI technology as creating problems rather than solving them, endangering actors' livelihoods and devaluing human artistry. This stance was evident in their opposition to the creation of 'Tilly Norwood', an AI actress. SAG-AFTRA maintains that 'Tilly Norwood' is not an actress and has no lived experience to draw from.
Freeman has previously thanked his fans for helping expose unauthorized AI voice imitations. In June 2024, he acknowledged their support in this matter.
The unauthorized use of celebrities' likeness and voice by artificial intelligence continues to be a contentious issue. Morgan Freeman's experience highlights the potential financial and artistic implications for actors. SAG-AFTRA's stance underscores the broader concerns about the impact of AI on the entertainment industry and human artistry.
