The Simpsons star Hank Azaria has shared fears voice actors could be replaced by AI, arguing that "body and soul" go into finding a character's tone.
Azaria, who voices bartender Moe, Chief Wiggum, Snake and other characters on the animated show, has discussed the possibility of being replaced by AI in a candid interactive op-ed for The New York Times.
"I imagine that soon enough, artificial intelligence will be able to recreate the sounds of the more than 100 voices I created for characters on The Simpsons over almost four decades," he noted.
"It makes me sad to think about it. Not to mention, it seems just plain wrong to steal my likeness or sound — or anyone else's."
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As he's played Moe for 36 years, Azaria said AI would be working with a lot of material.
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"AI could have access to 36 years of Moe, the permanently disgruntled bartender. He's appeared in just about every episode of The Simpsons. He's been terrified, in love, hit in the head and, most often, in a state of bitter hatred," he continued.
"I've laughed as Moe in dozens of ways by now. I've probably sighed as Moe 100 times. In terms of training AI, that's a lot to work with."
Azaria stated there will be something crucial missing if AI replaces him or any other voice actor as "our bodies and souls are involved to get the proper believability".
"A voice is not just a sound," he said.
"I'd like to think that no matter how much an AI version of Moe or Snake or Chief Wiggum will sound like my voice, something will still be missing — the humanness. There's so much of who I am that goes into creating a voice."
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The actor and comedian doesn't think AI is capable of completely replacing the subtleties of a human voice performance, "at least right now".
"The body and soul part will be harder," Azaria concluded.
Safeguarding around AI rights was one of the points of contention in the negotiations between studios and the SAG-AFTRA that led to the actors' strike of July 2023 — the first since 1980.
The protest came to an end in November 2023, when a tentative three-year deal was signed from both parties.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
