Actors, Artists Fight Back Against AI Theft of Voice and Likeness
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A growing wave of concern is sweeping through the American creative sector as artificial intelligence developers increasingly utilize creators’ work without permission or compensation, threatening the livelihoods of millions and sparking legal battles. Activists argue this vibrant ecosystem – encompassing film, music, television, publishing, and digital media – “supports millions of jobs, economic growth and projects around the world,” and is now facing an existential threat.
The core of the dispute lies in the non-transparent use of copyrighted material to train AI models. Campaigners are urgently calling for tech companies to forge content or partnership deals with creators, asserting that innovation and artistic rights are not mutually exclusive. “There is a better way than stealing,” a statement released by activists and reported by Variety declared. “It is indeed possible to have everything. We can have advanced and rapidly developing artificial intelligence while ensuring that the rights of creators are respected.”
Scarlett Johansson Leads the Charge Against AI Impersonation
One of the most prominent voices challenging the unchecked advancement of AI is actress Scarlett Johansson. For years, she has been vocal about the dangers of AI systems exploiting individuals’ likenesses. In late 2023, Johansson initiated legal action against the developers of the lisa AI: 90s Yearbook & Avatar app, after discovering they had used her face and voice in promotional materials without her consent. The advertisement, created using footage from her film Black Widow, was swiftly removed following public outcry.
In February 2024, Johansson publicly criticized a viral video featuring her digitally replicated image alongside other celebrities appearing to protest against antisemitic posts linked to Kanye West.
Further fueling the controversy, in May 2024, Johansson accused OpenAI of creating a GPT-4 voice that was “eerily similar” to her own. OpenAI initially denied the claim, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that the voice for the character Sky was based on another artist. Though, the company later announced it would pause the use of Sky while investigating the matter.
https://twitter.com/OpenAI/status/1792644999999909719
Matthew McConaughey Seeks to Trademark His Persona
The fight against AI exploitation isn’t limited to Johansson. Actor Matthew McConaughey recently took a novel approach, applying for a trademark directly on his own persona. This move comes after McConaughey, like manny of his peers, found his voice and face being used to generate AI-created content without his authorization.
The trademark request, filed with the US patent Office, seeks protection for all video clips featuring McConaughey, even those simply showing him smiling or speaking. A separate clause covers any use of his voice, notably his iconic delivery of the line “Alright, alright, alright” from the 1993 film Dazed and Confused.
These actions by Johansson and McConaughey represent a growing trend among creatives seeking to protect their intellectual property in the age of AI. Why is this happening? The rapid advancement of AI technology allows for increasingly realistic replication of voices and likenesses, making unauthorized use easier and more widespread. Who is affected? Actors, musicians, writers, and other artists are all vulnerable to having their work exploited. What is at stake? The livelihoods of creators and the integrity of artistic expression are threatened. How did it end? As of June 11, 2024, the legal and trademark battles are ongoing. OpenAI reinstated
