Meta Platforms to Integrate Hollywood Celebrity Voices into AI Projects
The company is in confidential negotiations with high-profile actors such as Judi Dench, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key
Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is actively pursuing deals with top Hollywood celebrities to incorporate their voices into its artificial intelligence initiatives. The company is in confidential negotiations with high-profile actors such as Judi Dench, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key, as reported by insiders familiar with the discussions. Meta has refrained from commenting on the ongoing talks.
In an effort to enhance its AI capabilities, Meta is racing to finalize these agreements before its Connect 2024 event in September. The goal is to develop a suite of AI tools, including a digital assistant product named MetaAI, which will feature the voices of these renowned celebrities. The use of famous voices aims to make AI interactions more engaging, trusted, and personalized for users.
Meta's push towards integrating celebrity voices comes amidst concerns within Hollywood about the potential for AI to displace creative jobs. In 2023, screenwriters and actors fought for safeguards against AI in their work, leading to labor stoppages. However, SAG-AFTRA, the primary union for actors, has reportedly reached an agreement with Meta regarding the terms of using celebrity voices.
The discussions with celebrities remain fluid, with no certainty on which actors will ultimately participate. However, if agreements are reached, Meta is prepared to pay millions of dollars in fees to these actors. The company has engaged all of Hollywood's top talent agencies in these negotiations, emphasizing the high stakes and significant investment involved.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's CEO, recently announced an increase in the company's AI expenditure for the year, raising the budget from $30 billion to at least $37 billion. Zuckerberg emphasized the importance of rapid development to maintain a competitive edge in the AI race, stating, "I'd rather build too fast rather than too late."
Meta's substantial investment in AI extends beyond social networking apps and advertising. The company aims to create artificially intelligent characters capable of text-based communication across its messaging platforms. One rapidly emerging area in AI is chatbots with voice abilities, functioning as virtual assistants. This development follows OpenAI's launch of a voice-capable version of its ChatGPT chatbot, highlighting the industry's move towards more conversational and interactive AI systems.
By leveraging the unique and recognizable voices of celebrities, Meta hopes to attract more users to its AI products and create a more emotionally responsive and user-friendly technology experience. This strategic move represents a significant step towards a future where AI mimics human speech more effectively, making technology more accessible and engaging.
