Morgan Freeman thanks his fans for pointing out the “unauthorized” use of AI to imitate his voice

Morgan Freeman has thanked his fans for alerting him to the “unauthorized” use of artificial intelligence (AI) to imitate his voice.

The actor, whose distinctive voice has arguably left an indelible mark on films such as The Shawshank Redemption and Million Dollar Baby, took to X/Twitter to thank those who alerted him to AI-generated imitations of his voice online after a series of videos created by a person posing as his niece went viral.

“Thank you to my incredible fans for your vigilance and support in exposing the unauthorized use of an AI voice impersonating me,” Freeman wrote in his thank you post on June 28. “Your dedication helps ensure that authenticity and integrity remain a top priority. I am grateful. #AI #Fraud #Imitation #IdentityProtection”

Thank you to my incredible fans for their vigilance and support in exposing the unauthorized use of an AI voice imitating me. Your efforts help ensure that authenticity and integrity remain a top priority. I am grateful. #AI #Fraud #Imitation #IdentityProtection

— Morgan Freeman (@morgan_freeman) June 28, 2024

While Freeman did not reveal the details of the incident, his post came after a TikTok user went viral with videos that included an AI-generated version of the actor’s voice. The content creator had even created a playlist dedicated to her “Uncle Mo” voiceover videos, including one titled “A Day in the Life of a Nepo Niece.”

The person behind the posts has since responded to reports of their Freeman silliness, saying they were having “a bit of fun” and it was a “very obvious” joke.

Freeman is just the latest Hollywood star to fall victim to unauthorized AI impersonation. Tom Hanks had previously warned his fans that an AI version of his likeness was used in an online advertisement for dental insurance. Robin Williams’ daughter Zelda condemned the “disturbing” use of AI to imitate the voice of her late father and others.

As Hollywood itself grapples with the rise of AI, more and more people are voicing their opinions on the technology. Tim Burton criticized AI-generated art, a supporting actor in WandaVision expressed concerns about “digital replicas,” and James Cameron warned of the potential dangers this technology could bring in the future.

Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter. Here.