Title: Celebrities and Authors Speak Out Against AI’s Impact on Privacy and Artistic Authenticity
In recent months, the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about significant advancements. November 2022 saw the introduction of ChatGPT, leading to the launch of AI chatbots by major tech companies and the emergence of AI-powered applications such as image editors and voice modulators. Industry leaders like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop have seamlessly integrated this technology into their popular apps. However, the widespread adoption of AI has raised concerns over its regulation, privacy and security implications, and the potential loss of jobs. These concerns were further emphasized when the SAG-AFTRA initiated a strike.
Prominent celebrities and authors have also joined the conversation surrounding the drawbacks of AI. Renowned actor Tom Hanks took to Instagram in October to clarify that a dental ad circulating online was created using an AI likeness of him. Hanks, known for his roles in films like “Forrest Gump” and “Apollo 13,” warned his followers to be cautious, stating, “Beware – there’s a video out there promoting some dental dental plan with an AI version of me. I have nothing to do with it.”
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg, creator of the Jurassic Park franchise, expressed his concerns about AI’s potential dangers. Speaking on The Late Late Show, Spielberg stressed the irreplaceable essence of the human soul in art, stating, “The soul is unimaginable and is ineffable. It cannot be created by any algorithm. And to lose that because books, movies, and music are being written by machines that we created…That terrifies me.”
Actress Zelda Williams, daughter of the late Robin Williams, criticized the use of AI to recreate her father’s voice. On Instagram, Zelda expressed her disappointment, calling such recreations “a poor facsimile of greater people” and a “horrendous Frankensteinian monster.”
Marvel actor Scarlett Johansson made headlines when she decided to take legal action against an AI app that used her voice for an online ad without her consent. Johansson’s representatives informed Variety that she had no association with the ad or the developer of the AI app, Convert Software, and was not contacted for permission.
Bestselling author George R.R. Martin, famously known for his series “A Song of Ice and Fire” adapted into the television series “Game of Thrones,” filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. Martin and 17 other authors accused the developer of ChatGPT of utilizing their copyrighted works to train the AI chatbot without permission. The lawsuit, organized by the Authors Guild, called it a “systematic theft on a mass scale.”
Actor Keanu Reeves has made it clear that his film contracts include a clause prohibiting the use of AI on his likeness during any stage of production. Expressing his concerns about AI, Reeves remarked, “If you go into deepfake land, it has none of your points of view. That’s scary.”
Veteran actor Anil Kapoor also joined the fight against AI by filing a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court to protect his likeness, including his name, image, and voice. The court granted an order prohibiting any unauthorized use of Kapoor’s likeness. Kapoor expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I think it’s very progressive and great not only for me, but for other actors as well.”
Equity UK, the British equivalent of SAG-AFTRA, held a rally in London to support the ongoing actors’ strike. Eminent personalities like Imelda Staunton, Simon Pegg, and Brian Cox attended the rally. Addressing the crowd, Cox expressed concerns about AI, saying, “The wages are one thing, but the worst aspect is the whole idea of AI and what AI can do to us.”
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a prominent advocate for highlighting the dangers of AI. Musk warned that there is some chance AI could eventually pose a threat to human civilization, citing the fragility historically observed in all civilizations.
Stephen Fry, the renowned English actor, director, writer, and comedian, recently denounced AI after discovering that his voice was used in a documentary without his permission. Fry expressed his frustration, stating, “I said not one word of that, it was a machine. They used my reading of the seven volumes of the Harry Potter books, and from that dataset, an AI of my voice was created.”
As AI continues to advance and shape various industries, debates over privacy, security, and artistic authenticity persist. Celebrities and authors are raising their voices to shed light on the potential risks and challenges associated with the widespread adoption of AI technology.
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