Meta Platforms in Talks with Hollywood Celebrities for AI Voice Ventures

Meta Platforms is reportedly offering substantial sums of money to Hollywood celebrities in exchange for permission to record and utilize their voices in artificial intelligence (AI) ventures, as per sources familiar with the discussions. Individuals disclosed that the company is in talks with Judi Dench, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key. Meta is in a rush to finalize agreements to allow ample time for the development of a range of AI tools intended for presentation at its Connect 2024 event scheduled for September. The specific applications for the celebrities’ voices by Meta remain somewhat ambiguous, although one prospect mentioned is a chatbot that could function as a digital assistant akin to Apple’s Siri or a companion. This chatbot might be equipped with Awkwafina’s voice, for instance. Negotiations between Meta and certain talent representatives have encountered multiple pauses and restarts due to disagreements over the terms governing the use of the actors’ voices. Meta aims to secure voice rights for various purposes within a specified timeframe or for a specific project, whereas the actors’ representatives are pushing for more stringent restrictions.