The digital doppelgänger dilemma
AI is already changing our relationships with celebrities, as several stars endorse its potential. The question is, should you get on board, and if you don’t, will you be left behind?
In 2023, identity was more than a buzzword; it was the headline act. Hollywood’s elite were in uproar, with writers and unions striking back against the surge of AI-generated content. Today, big names like Tom Hanks and Stephen Fry are openly criticising AI for unauthorised imitations, with Hanks battling against the use of his voice and likeness in ads, while Fry is incensed by an AI clone fronting a documentary without his consent. Even tech enthusiast Will.i.am is expressing concern over the risks to our “facial math” in this digital era.
But it’s not all resistance and rants in Tinseltown. Some are riding the AI wave, making it their surfboard in the sea of change. During the creation of the Obi-Wan Kenobi TV series, 91-year-old James Earl Jones signed off on allowing Disney to replicate his vocal performance as Darth Vader, employing an AI voice to futureproof the character.
