Veteran Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman has publicly condemned the artificial intelligence cloning of his iconic voice, labelling the act as nothing short of robbery.
A Distinct Voice Under Siege
In a recent interview with The Guardian, the acclaimed star of films like The Shawshank Redemption expressed his strong disapproval. He stated that using AI technology to mimic his distinctive vocal tones without his consent is equivalent to stealing.
"I'm like any other actor — don't mimic me with falseness," Freeman declared. "I get paid for doing stuff like that, so if you're gonna do it without me, you're robbing me."
Legal Battles and Industry-Wide Threat
The Oscar-winning actor revealed that this is not just a theoretical concern. He confirmed that his legal team has been "very, very busy" handling multiple cases where his voice was cloned without approval.
Freeman also criticized the emergence of AI-generated actors, viewing them as a direct threat to real human creatives within the film industry. He specifically referred to a virtual AI actress being promoted in Hollywood, noting, "Nobody likes her because she's not real, and that takes the part of a real person."
Fans and Fellow Stars Join the Fight
The actor took a moment to thank his vigilant fans for their help. Last year, they assisted him in identifying and flagging unauthorized AI imitations of his voice, an effort he says helps protect artistic authenticity and integrity.
Morgan Freeman is not alone in this battle. He now stands with other high-profile Hollywood figures, including Scarlett Johansson and Emma Thompson, who are also speaking out against the growing and often unregulated influence of AI in acting and filmmaking.
