Morgan Freeman Critiques AI Voice Usage

Morgan Freeman expressed his frustration regarding the misuse of audio by artificial intelligence, mentioning his lawyers are currently handling this issue. The esteemed actor revealed feeling “a little bit PO’d” about the situation.

When asked about the ongoing AI case while promoting his latest film, *Now You See Me: Now You Don’t*, the 88-year-old actor discussed the troubling trend of AI recreating the voices of deceased actors, naming James Earl Jones among them.

“A lot, yes. Quite a few,” he responded, illustrating the growing concern around this issue.

Freeman took a clear stance against this practice, insisting that it’s unfair. He noted, “I’m just like any other actor. Don’t lie and imitate me. I don’t appreciate it, and I get paid to do stuff like that, so if you try to do it without me, you’re taking money away from me.”

He also criticized the introduction of an AI actress, Tilly Norwood, and its implications on the acting community. He remarked that such developments might not be well-received since the audience generally prefers real humans in roles.

“Nobody’s going to like her because she’s not real and she plays real human roles… The union’s job is to keep actors acting, so that conflict is going to happen,” Freeman commented.

Freeman has been a victim of AI deepfakes and in 2024, he acknowledged his fans for helping identify an AI video that misused his voice on TikTok. He expressed gratitude for their vigilance in protecting his identity amidst these occurrences.

During the conversation, Freeman reminisced about enhancing his iconic voice with guidance from a community college instructor. He shared how vocal clarity and confidence were key elements in his learning process.

“If you’re going to speak, practice speaking clearly… Most people’s voices will be higher than normal if they know how to relax,” Freeman explained, highlighting the importance of voice training.