An actor from The Simpsons has voiced concerns about the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to take over voice acting roles.
Hank Azaria, known for lending his voice to numerous characters on the long-running animated series since its inception in 1989, is contemplating the impact of AI on his profession. Azaria is famously the voice behind characters such as Moe Szyslak, Comic Book Guy, Chief Wiggum, and Duffman.
He also portrayed Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the owner of the Kwik-E-Mart, from 1990 until 2017, when the character was transitioned to a less prominent role. This shift occurred following criticism from Indian comedian Hari Kondabolu, who produced a documentary addressing the problematic nature of a white actor voicing a character of South Asian descent.
In a recent episode of the Our Way podcast, Azaria expressed his thoughts on the threat AI poses to voice actors in the entertainment industry.
The 60-year-old reflected: “AI replacing us essentially vocally… My perspective on it, and I hate to say right now there’s nuances they can’t quite get, you still need the human element, but I’m not sure how much longer that’s going to be the case.”
He continued by saying: “It’s coming, it’s the steam engine essentially, it’s going to be really interesting how they use it.
“As a vocal artist, I came to see what we do as offering choices in editing, you try it this way, you rehearse, if you do it live then you do the editing in rehearsal, you try and figure out the best way to deliver this.
“The computer can give you unlimited choices in a nanosecond for free. Although you still need a human working the dial, as it were.”
The potential of AI to replicate human voices is causing concern in the entertainment world. Stephen Fry recently revealed that his voice was cloned from the Harry Potter audiobooks using AI technology.
Similarly, musicians have expressed their displeasure after discovering AI-generated songs that mimic their voices.
Cher is among those who have called for regulations in the music industry regarding AI. After hearing an AI-produced rendition of herself performing a Madonna song, she told AP: “Someone did me singing a Madonna song and it was kind of shocking.
“They didn’t have it down perfectly.
“But also, I’ve spent my entire life trying to be myself, and now these a******s are going to go take it? And they’ll do my acting and they’ll do my singing?
“And I mean, it’s just… it’s out of control.”
The 77-year-old icon further emphasized her stance, advocating for a ban on such technology.
“I’m telling you, if you work forever to become somebody – and I’m not talking about somebody in the famous, money part – but an artist and then someone just takes it from you, it seems like it should be illegal,” Cher remarked.