Robin Williams’ Daughter Expresses Concerns About AI Voice Recreation
Zelda Williams, the daughter of the late actor and comedian Robin Williams, has raised her voice against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to recreate her father’s voice, describing it as disturbing. In a social media post, Williams shared her thoughts on AI and its implications amidst the ongoing actors strike, which has been a topic of concern for the Hollywood union, SAG-AFTRA.
Williams took to Instagram to express her stance on AI, stating, I am not an impartial voice in SAG’s fight against AI. I’ve witnessed for YEARS how many people want to train these models to create/re-create actors who cannot consent, like Dad. She further revealed that she had already heard AI being used to manipulate her father’s voice, which she found personally unsettling. According to Williams, this issue extends far beyond her personal feelings and raises important ethical questions.
SAG-AFTRA launched a strike earlier this year to demand better pay and working conditions for its members. The union, representing over 160,000 members, has raised concerns about the use of AI recreations in the entertainment industry. Williams reinforced their stance by emphasizing that living actors should have the opportunity to bring characters to life through their choices and efforts.
The 34-year-old Zelda Williams expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, These re-creations are, at their very best, a poor facsimile of greater people, but at their worst, a horrendous Frankensteinian monster, cobbled together from the worst bits of everything this industry is, instead of what it should stand for.
Amidst this debate, Robin Williams’ voice is set to be featured in a new short film called Once Upon a Studio, produced and distributed by Disney. The film will include unheard dialogue by the late actor’s Aladdin character, Genie. Actor Josh Gad, known for voicing Olaf in Disney’s Frozen, revealed on Instagram that the dialogue was recorded by Robin Williams before his passing, and it was permitted for use by his estate.
Robin Williams, known for his comedic genius and exceptional talent, tragically died by suicide in 2014 after struggling with anxiety, severe depression, and Parkinson’s disease.
The concerns voiced by Zelda Williams shed light on a broader ethical and artistic debate surrounding the use of AI to recreate the voices of deceased actors. As technology continues to advance, questions about consent, representation, and the preservation of human performance in the entertainment industry come to the forefront. The ongoing actors strike spearheaded by SAG-AFTRA serves as a platform to advocate for fair treatment and protect the creative contributions of living actors.
It remains to be seen how this debate will unfold and what measures will be taken to address the concerns raised by Zelda Williams and the broader entertainment community. As the industry evolves, striking a balance between technology and human artistry will undoubtedly continue to be a topic of discussion.
