Morgan Freeman criticizes “unauthorized” AI version of his voice

July 2, 2024

Published: July 2, 2024

Photo from Morgan Freeman’s Instagram

Morgan Freeman criticizes “unauthorized” AI version of his voice

By Movieguide® Contributor

Morgan Freeman thanks his fans after being informed about a viral video that uses an AI version of his voice.

“Thank you to my incredible fans for their vigilance and support in exposing the unauthorized use of an AI voice impersonating me,” the actor posted on Facebook. “Your efforts help ensure that authenticity and integrity remain a top priority. I am grateful. #AI #Fraud #Impersonation #IdentityProtection.”

In the video, a TikTok posted by user Justine’s Camera Roll, Freeman’s voice could be heard narrating. The video’s caption added further confusion – Justine’s Camera Roll said Freeman was her “Uncle Mo.”

“(I was just) joking. I just thought it was funny, OK?” the TikToker said in a follow-up video. “I thought it was very obvious that this was a joke and now Uncle Mo is mad at me. If anyone on his team is watching, I’m so sorry.”

Freeman is not the only Hollywood star to fight against the unauthorized use of his voice or image.

AVENGERS actress Scarlett Johansson recently hired legal counsel after claiming OpenAI used her voice without her consent. She claimed OpenAI CEO Sam Altman initially asked for permission to use her voice.

“After careful consideration and for personal reasons, I turned down the offer,” the actress explained. “Nine months later, my friends, family and the public realised how much the latest system called ‘Sky’ sounded like me.”

She continued: “At a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and protecting our own image, our own work, our own identity, I believe these are issues that deserve absolute clarity. I look forward to a solution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to ensure that individual rights are protected.”

“The incident underscores the importance of protecting one’s voice in the age of artificial intelligence. Simply cloning a voice is no longer science fiction, but scientific fact,” a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson said of Johansson’s situation. “Whether you are a professional artist seeking to protect your career or a private individual seeking to protect the words attributed to you, government protection is now required.”

Movieguide® previously reported on Johansson’s legal dispute:

Actress Scarlett Johansson believes an AI company used her voice for its product despite her requests not to do so.

OpenAI, the developers of Chat GPT, released a new model last week that includes a feature called “Voice Mode.” This feature allows users to hear a voice responding to their questions and searches. The voice in question is a voice called “Sky,” which both users and Johansson herself believe sounds like the actress.

In response, Johansson took legal action and OpenAI removed Sky from its platform.

“We believe that AI voices should not intentionally mimic a celebrity’s distinctive voice – Sky’s voice is not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson, but belongs to another professional actress using her own natural speaking voice,” said OpenAI. said“To protect their privacy, we cannot disclose the names of our speakers.”

Altman denies “any connection between Johansson and the Sky voice.”

“We selected the voice actor for Sky before we approached Ms. Johansson,” he said. said in a statement. “Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we have suspended the use of Sky’s voice in our products. We are sorry we did not communicate better.”

Regardless of whether the voice intentionally sounded like Johansson or not, the actress believes “these are questions that deserve absolute clarity” at a time when celebrities are “struggling with deepfakes and protecting our own image, our own work, our own identities.”