Meta Platforms has been engaged in discussions with prominent actors to purchase the rights to record their voices for integration into advanced AI projects. Among those spoken to include legendary British actress Judi Dench, and famed American stars Awkwafina and Keegan-Michael Key.
As the holding company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, Meta is under a time crunch to finalize these negotiations, aiming to have an array of AI products ready to present at the Connect 2024 event scheduled for September.
The detailed application of these recorded voices remains somewhat ambiguous. Nonetheless, insiders have hinted towards the development of a sophisticated chatbot, which could function in capacities similar to Apple’s Siri. This digital assistant mode could even go further to offer companionship-like interactions to the users.
In this envisioned interaction, users might find themselves engaged in conversation with a chatbot, but with the distinct and familiar voice of someone like Awkwafina. However, this unique concept has been met with numerous roadblocks during the negotiation process.
The negotiations with the talent representation have been tumultuous at best, witnessing multiple halts and resumptions. At the center of the conflict exists a significant disagreement over the extent and terms of usage rights for the voices of these high-profile individuals.
Meta aims to secure extensive rights for these voice recordings. This would grant them the freedom to utilize them across various functions over an agreed-fixed term for a specific project.
The actors and their representatives, on the other hand, are advocating for more bounded utilization parameters. Yet, the emerging field of AI continues to create ripples of unease throughout the Hollywood creative community.
A sense of apprehension pervades the industry as creatives fear AI’s potential to supplant their roles. This concern was palpable during the 2023 labor strike, where actors and scriptwriters fiercely advocated for measures to shield their professions from the potential threats posed by AI.
However, the road to an agreement has been paved, following a cooperative negotiation between Meta and the major actors’ union, SAG-Aftra, also known as the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Meta’s endeavors in the AI domain are not restricted to voice-based chatbots. It also ventured into creating text-based chatbots, drawing inspiration from American celebrities such as Dwyane Wade and Paris Hilton for the same.
Despite the potential scope, Meta decided to discontinue this project. Notably, the company unveiled a unique AI studio designed to empower content creators with the capability to develop their own personal chatbots.
While the specifics of Meta’s AI ventures remain somewhat enigmatic, it is clear that the company aspires to experiment widely in the field, traversing the terrains of both voice and text-based artificial intelligence.
The negotiations for this innovative project are undeniably challenging, given the concerns around the application of AI in the creative industry, but agreements reached with parties like SAG-Aftra point to potential developments.
Meta’s efforts highlight an intriguing prospect, fundamentally transforming the interaction between users and digital assistants. It promises a digital world where your AI chatbot sounds remarkably like your favorite celebrity.