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Morgan Freeman said his lawyers were already “very busy” with the issue of audio misuse by artificial intelligence (AI), and that the actor felt “a little bit PO’d” as a result.
“A lot, yes. Quite a few,” Freeman told the Guardian on Monday when asked about ongoing cases.
While promoting his latest film, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the 88-year-old actor shared his thoughts on artificial intelligence recreating the voices of actors after their death, including the late James Earl Jones.
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Actor Morgan Freeman has criticized artificial intelligence for using actors’ voices and likenesses without their consent. (Presley Ann/Getty Images, TCM)
Before his death, Jones had given Lucasfilm permission to continue using his voice as Darth Vader through AI technology, but Freeman strongly opposed the idea.
”I’m kind of PO’d,” Freeman said. “I’m just like any other actor. Don’t lie and imitate me. I don’t appreciate it, and I get paid to do stuff like that, so if you try to do it without me, you’re taking money away from me.”
Freeman also criticized the creation of AI actress Tilly Norwood, whose appearance in September sparked widespread condemnation from the actors’ union.
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Morgan Freeman has been the victim of AI deepfakes in recent years. (license/image)
“Nobody’s going to like her because she’s not real and she plays real human roles and she’s not going to do very well in film or TV…The union’s job is to keep actors acting, so that conflict is going to happen,” Freeman said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Freeman’s representatives for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Freeman has been a victim of AI deepfakes for years and has spoken out against their use. In 2024, he thanked his social media followers for reporting an AI video using his voice on TikTok.
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Morgan Freeman has said that an AI deepfake of him “robbed” him as an actor. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)
“Thank you to all my amazing fans for their vigilance and support against the fraudulent use of AI voices imitating me,” he posted on his Facebook page. “Your dedication allows us to ensure that authenticity and integrity remain paramount. Thank you. #AI #Fraud #Imitation #IdentityProtection.”
During the interview, Freeman also talked about his iconic voice, and how he developed it with the help of a dictionary instructor at a Los Angeles community college.
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“If you’re going to speak, practice speaking clearly, hitting the final consonant, and lowering your voice,” Freeman says. “Most people’s voices will be higher than normal if they know how to relax. He taught me that kind of thing. That was Robert Whitman. I’ll never forget him.””
