Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is pursuing multi-million dollar deals with Hollywood celebrities to use their voices in its artificial intelligence projects. Sources indicate that stars such as Judi Dench, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key are in negotiations with the tech giant. Meta aims to integrate these voices into a variety of AI tools, potentially including digital assistants and chatbots.
Meta recently established an AI studio designed to help content creators develop chatbots resembling their personas. This initiative follows a previous program that involved celebrities like Dwyane Wade and Paris Hilton, which has since concluded. Although the specifics of how these celebrity voices will be utilized remain unclear, they could serve functions similar to Apple’s Siri or act as digital companions.
As Meta prepares for its Connect 2024 event in September, where it plans to unveil new AI tools, negotiations with celebrities have encountered obstacles. Meta seeks to secure voice rights for specific projects with fixed terms, while representatives for the stars are advocating for more restrictive agreements.
The creative industry has expressed significant concerns about AI, particularly regarding job security. Last year, screenwriters and actors demanded protections against AI’s impact. SAG-AFTRA, the primary union for actors, has reportedly reached an agreement with Meta on terms related to AI voice use.
