Morgan Freeman Calls Out ‘Unauthorized’ AI Version of His Voice

Published: July 2, 2024

Morgan Freeman Calls Out ‘Unauthorized’ AI Version of His Voice

By Movieguide® Contributor

Morgan Freeman is thanking fans after being notified of a viral video that uses an AI version of his voice.

“Thank you to my incredible fans for your vigilance and support in calling out the unauthorized use of an A.I. voice imitating me,” the actor posted on Facebook. “Your dedication helps authenticity and integrity remain paramount. Grateful. #AI #scam #imitation #IdentityProtection.”

The video, a TikTok posted by user Justine’s Camera Roll, featured Freeman’s voice as a narrator. The video’s caption caused more confusion — Justine’s Camera Roll stated that Freeman was her “Uncle Mo.”

“[I was just] having a little bit of fun. I just thought it’d be funny, OK?” the TikToker said in a follow-up video. “I thought that it was very obvious that this was a joke and now Uncle Mo is upset with me. If anyone from his team is watching, I am so sorry.”

Freeman isn’t the only Hollywood star hitting back at unauthorized uses of their voice or likeness.

AVENGERS actress Scarlett Johansson recently hired legal counsel after she claimed OpenAI used her voice’s likeness without her consent. She alleged that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman initially asked for permission to use her voice.

“After much consideration and for personal reasons, I declined the offer,” the actress explained. “Nine months later, my friends, family and the general public all noted how much the newest system named ‘Sky’ sounded like me.”

She continued, “In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity. I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected.”

“The incident highlights the importance of protecting your voice in an age of AI. It is no longer science fiction to easily clone a voice, it is science fact,” a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson said of Johansson’s situation. “Whether you are a professional performer looking to protect your career or an individual looking to protect the words ascribed to you, the need for federal protection is now.”

Movieguide® previously reported on Johansson’s legal battle:

Actress Scarlett Johansson believes an AI company used her voice for its product, despite her request for it not to.

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

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

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

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

“We cast the voice actor behind Sky’s voice before any outreach to Ms. Johansson,” he said in a statement. “Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we have paused using Sky’s voice in our products. We are sorry to Ms. Johansson that we didn’t communicate better.”

Regardless of whether the voice intentionally sounded like Johansson or not, the actress believes “these are questions that deserve absolute clarity” in an age when celebrities are “grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities.”