The Dynamic Duo Meets AI

Lights, camera, action! Academy Award-winning legends Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine are stepping into the wild world of artificial intelligence. They’ve teamed up with ElevenLabs, a company that does some pretty cool stuff with audio, to recreate their iconic voices using AI. That’s right, folks! McConaughey and Caine are basically saying, “Who needs real voices when you have AI?”

McConaughey’s Spanish Adventure

Our friend Matthew has been riding the AI wave for a while now. He’s not just sitting on the sidelines; he’s an investor and an early supporter of ElevenLabs. So, what’s he planning? He’s looking to give his “Lyrics of Livin’” newsletter a spicy twist with a Spanish edition, all thanks to this voice cloning magic. Talk about taking your talents global!

Caine Joins the Marketplace

Meanwhile, Caine has jumped into the game in a big way. His voice is now available on ElevenLabs’ fancy new Iconic Voice Marketplace. This is where brands can pay to use AI versions of celebrity voices for everything from audiobooks to catchy ad campaigns. Imagine hearing Caine’s dulcet tones while shopping for shoes!

The Divide in Hollywood

But hold on a second! Not everyone in Hollywood is doing a happy dance about this AI invasion. It’s like the classic divide on the playground: some kids love it, and some kids think it’s the end of the world. Actors are split between seeing AI as a golden nugget of commercial potential and as a dark shadow looming over their jobs.

McConaughey’s Praise for ElevenLabs

McConaughey just can’t stop raving about ElevenLabs. He said, “Since our first chat, I’ve been knocked off my feet by how the ElevenLabs team turned this technology into something creators and storytellers can use daily.” It’s like he’s found the holy grail of voice technology!

Caine’s Voice Among Legends

And let’s talk about Caine’s voice—now it’s hanging out with the likes of Judy Garland, John Wayne, and even Alan Turing in this voice marketplace. I mean, can you imagine a dinner party with all of these iconic voices? I’d pay good money to hear that!

Melania Trump Gets in on the Action

Even Melania Trump joined the party by publishing an audiobook of her memoir using an AI-generated replica of her voice. Talk about a futuristic approach to storytelling!

Hollywood’s Heavyweights Weigh In

As you can imagine, not everyone is thrilled. Three-time Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro didn’t hold back when he blurted out “Forget AI!” at a screening of his new film. He later told NPR he’d “rather die” than let AI creep into his films. Well, that escalated quickly!

Emma Thompson’s Script Frustration

And it gets juicier! Dame Emma Thompson expressed her “intense irritation” on Stephen Colbert’s late show when Microsoft’s AI assistant tried to rewrite her scripts. “I don’t need you to rewrite what I’ve just written!” she exclaimed. You go, girl!

Robert Downey Jr. and Nicolas Cage Speak Out

Then there’s Robert Downey Jr., who’s not about to let anyone mess with his Iron Man character. He pledged to “sue all future executives” who try to create digital replicas of him without asking first. And Nicolas Cage called AI “inhumane,” warning young actors that technology might want to steal their magic.

The Call for Protection

Over in France, Boris Rehlinger, the voice behind Ben Affleck in dubbing, is leading the charge with the TouchePasMaVF initiative. He’s fighting to protect human dubbing from being replaced by AI. He confessed, “I feel threatened, even though my voice hasn’t been replaced yet!”

A Fight for Rights

The Screen Actors Guild is entering the ring, battling for AI rights. They went on strike for 118 days in 2023 to secure protections against this ‘threat of AI’. Meanwhile, video game performers got in on the action too, launching a separate strike in July 2024 that ended with a contract requiring explicit consent for any AI-generated performances. Nothing like a little drama in Hollywood!