Meta Offers Millions to Hollywood Celebrities for AI Voice Projects

Meta Platforms Inc. is offering substantial financial incentives to Hollywood celebrities for the rights to use their voices in artificial intelligence projects, according to several individuals familiar with the negotiations.

Ongoing Negotiations with Top Celebrities

The company is currently in discussions with renowned figures such as Judi Dench, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key, as reported by sources who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the project. Representatives from Meta have declined to comment on the matter.

A sleek, futuristic boardroom at Meta headquarters, with a large holographic countdown timer prominently displayed, showing days remaining until Connect 2024. - AI generated

Urgency to Finalize Deals

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is urgently working to finalize these agreements in order to develop a suite of AI tools to be unveiled at its Connect 2024 event in September.

Potential Uses for Celebrity Voices

While the specific applications of these voices are not fully disclosed, discussions suggest the development of a chatbot that could function as a digital assistant, similar to Apple’s Siri, or even as a digital companion, the sources indicated. Imagine conversing with a chatbot that speaks in the voice of Awkwafina, for instance.

Stalled Negotiations and Terms

However, negotiations have been tumultuous, with several starts and stops, as the parties struggle to agree on the terms of voice usage. Meta aims to secure broad usage rights for voices over a fixed term for a single project, whereas representatives for the actors are advocating for stricter limitations.

Concerns in the Hollywood Community

The rise of artificial intelligence has unsettled many in the Hollywood creative community, who fear the technology could result in job losses. Screenwriters and actors sought safeguards against AI usage during labor disputes last year. Nonetheless, SAG-AFTRA, the principal union for actors, has reportedly reached an agreement with Meta on these terms, according to sources.

Previous AI Experiments

Previously, Meta experimented with creating text-based chatbots inspired by celebrities like Dwyane Wade and Paris Hilton. Although that program has since ended, Meta has introduced an AI studio that allows content creators to develop chatbots resembling themselves.

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Conor Dart

A deep desire to explore and learn as much about AI as possible while spreading kindness and helping others.

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