Celebrities Fighting Artificial Intelligence Invasion: Scarlett Johansson, Keanu Reeves, Anil Kapoor and More

The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has experienced rapid development in recent months. Since the introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022, major tech companies have launched their own AI chatbots, and various AI-powered applications like image editors and voice modulators have emerged. This technology has even been integrated into popular apps such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop. However, there are concerns that need to be addressed. Despite the convenience it brings, debates have arisen regarding the regulation of AI, as well as the associated privacy and security issues. Moreover, fears have been raised about potential job displacement, leading to a strike by SAG-AFTRA.

At the same time, several well-known celebrities and authors have spoken about the disadvantages of artificial intelligence, its effects on their lives and work, and how it could shape the future. From Tom Hanks and Anil Kapoor to Elon Musk, check out the celebrities and authors who have spoken out and even taken action against AI.

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In October, Tom Hanks clarified on Instagram that a dental ad that was doing the rounds was created with his AI likeness and did not feature him. The veteran actor, who has starred in films such as Forrest Gump, Apollo 13 and The Man Called Otto, wrote on Instagram: “Watch out – there’s a video promoting a dental plan with an AI version of me. I have nothing to do with it.”

2. Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg, the creator of the Jurassic Park franchise, also expressed his opinion on the dangers of artificial intelligence and how creating art with it would not be the same. Speaking on The Late Late Show, Spielberg said: “The soul is unfathomable and indescribable. It can’t be created by any algorithm. It’s just something that exists in all of us. And to lose it because books and movies, music are written by machines that we create… It scares me… It’s going to be ‘Twilight Zone’. It’s going to be a cookbook and we’re on a menu.”

3. Robin Williams

Actress Zelda Williams, daughter of the late Robin Williams, recently criticized the use of artificial intelligence to recreate her father’s voice. On Instagram, Zelda wrote: “These hobbies are, at best, poor facsimiles of greater people, but at worst, a hideous Frankensteinian monster that cobbles together the worst part of this entire industry instead of what it is supposed to represent.”

4. Scarlett Johansson

Famous Marvel actress Scarlett Johansson recently caused quite a stir when she decided to take legal action against an AI app for using her voice in an online ad without her consent. The actor’s reps told Variety that Johansson is not a spokesperson for the ad or the developer of the artificial intelligence app Convert Software, and was not contacted for permission before the ad aired.

5. George R.R. Martin

Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin and 17 other authors sued OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, for using their copyrighted works to train an AI chatbot without their permission. A lawsuit was organized by the Authors Guild, which called it “systematic theft on a mass scale”.

6. Keanu Reeves

Actor Keanu Reeves has a clause in his contract that reportedly prohibits the use of artificial intelligence on him at any stage of the film’s production. Speaking about AI, Reeves said: “When you’re giving a performance in a movie, you know you’re going to be cut, but you’re participating. If you go into deep fake-land, it doesn’t have any input from you. That’s scary.”

7. Anil Kapoor

Veteran actor Anil Kapoor also recently joined the fight against AI when he filed a case in the Delhi High Court to protect his image like name, image, voice and more. In a landmark decision, the court granted an injunction and prohibited anyone from misusing Kapoor’s image without his permission. “I think it’s very progressive and great not only for me but for the rest of the cast,” he told Variety.

8. Brian Cox

The UK version of SAG-AFTRA, Equity UK, staged a rally in support of the ongoing actors’ strike in London in July, attended by notables including Imelda Staunton, Simon Pegg and Brian Cox. The English actor addressed the audience and expressed his concerns about artificial intelligence. “The wages are one thing, but the worst part is the whole idea of AI and what AI can do for us,” Cox said.

9. Elon Musk

The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has been one of the prominent figures to voice his opinion on the dangers of artificial intelligence. “There’s a above-zero chance that AI will kill us all. I think it’s slow, but there’s a chance. I think it’s also about the fragility of human civilization. If you study history, you’ll see that every civilization has some kind of lifespan,” Musk said.

10. Stephen Fry

The English actor, director, writer and comedian recently raged against artificial intelligence after his voice was used in a documentary without his permission. “I didn’t say a word about it, it was a machine. They used what I had read from the seven Harry Potter books, and from that data set was created an artificial intelligence of my voice that did that new narration.