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Meta Ventures into AI Voices with Hollywood Talent

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is reportedly in discussions with several high-profile actors and influencers, including Judi Dench, Keegan-Michael Key, and Awkwafina, to incorporate their voices into its artificial intelligence offerings. According to Bloomberg, the firm is eager to finalize contracts swiftly in anticipation of showcasing these innovations at its upcoming Meta Connect conference in September.

The initiative is expected to feature a digital assistant branded as MetaAI, as detailed in a report by the New York Times. A number of unnamed sources revealed that Meta is actively negotiating with leading talent agencies to secure voice agreements, with potential payouts reaching “millions of dollars” for participating actors. Previous ventures, such as the now-discontinued Meta AI chatbots, also saw the company invest heavily in celebrity involvement to enhance its AI narratives.

While the contracts for this AI voice initiative are expected to be temporary, actors will have the flexibility to decide whether or not to renew their agreements upon expiration. These voices will likely be integrated across various Meta platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and even Meta’s smart glasses, Ray-Ban Stories.

Despite the excitement surrounding the use of celebrity voices, there is an underlying skepticism about the novelty of such features. Critics argue that, although generative AI technology has vastly improved in creating human-like voices—as exemplified by OpenAI’s GPT-4o demonstration resembling Scarlett Johansson—these voice functions may still feel gimmicky to users. The key to success will depend on whether these celebrity AIs can perform tasks as effectively as the standard versions existing today, a clarity that can only come with formal announcements from Meta regarding the capabilities of these featured voices.

The prospect of having well-known personalities like Dame Judi Dench’s voice narrating real-time experiences could indeed capture user interest. The idea of receiving commentary on everyday occurrences from such a distinguished figure is appealing, and there is a certain enjoyment in considering the whimsical scenarios that could arise from this technology. For instance, if Dench’s AI were to provide inaccurate information about a landmark, users could have fun imagining it as a clever ruse crafted by her iconic character M from the James Bond series.

As Meta moves forward with this ambitious project, the intersection of celebrity culture with AI technology raises important questions about authenticity and user engagement. Whether these enhancements will resonate positively with audiences remains to be seen, but they certainly open up intriguing possibilities for the future of digital interaction.

Source
www.theverge.com