Robert Downey Jr. would not suppose Marvel executives would ever recreate his portrayal of Tony Stark utilizing synthetic intelligence. But when they did, he would lawyer up — even posthumously.
On a current episode of the On With Kara Swisher podcast, the Oscar-winning actor stated he intends to “sue all future executives” who permit an AI-created model of him. Talking about his position as Iron Man, Downey stated he doesn’t need his likeness recreated by AI know-how.
“I’m not anxious about them hijacking my character’s soul as a result of there’s like three or 4 guys and gals who make all the selections there, anyway, and they’d by no means try this to me, with or with out me,” Downey stated.
Swisher famous that these executives would ultimately get replaced.
“Effectively, you are proper,” Downey stated. “I want to right here state that I intend to sue all future executives simply on spec.”
“You may be useless,” Swisher stated.
Downey replied, “However my regulation agency will nonetheless be very lively.”
Representatives for Marvel Studios and for Downey didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Actors nonetheless battling towards AI
The dialogue comes amid the Hollywood online game performers’ strike, which started in July after greater than 18 months of negotiations over a brand new interactive media settlement with sport trade giants broke down as a result of synthetic intelligence protections.
Leaders of the Display Actors Guild-American Federation of Tv and Radio Artists have billed the problems behind the labour dispute — and AI specifically — as an existential disaster for performers. Considerations about how film studios will use AI helped gasoline final 12 months’s movie and tv strikes by the union, which lasted 4 months. SAG-AFTRA finally signed a deal requiring productions to get the knowledgeable consent of actors whose digital replicas are used.
A spokesperson for SAG-AFTRA stated that Downey has the best to disclaim any digital duplicate makes use of in movie due to California’s new regulation prohibiting the unauthorized replication of a useless performer’s likenesses with out prior consent. That regulation, signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, was sponsored by the union.
It is not a leap to counsel that firms may attempt to replicate an actor with AI after their demise — superior CGI was getting used practically 10 years in the past to convey actors resembling Peter Cushing and Paul Walker again on display screen posthumously.
However the swift creation of AI deepfake know-how, and the shortage of regulation round it, has involved many performers.
Downey is not the primary actor from the Marvel universe to say he is towards his likeness being recreated by AI sooner or later. In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2023, Samuel L. Jackson stated he reads his contracts rigorously, and removes clauses that may permit studios to make use of his picture “in perpetuity,” which would come with after his demise.
Robin Williams’s daughter Zelda slammed AI recreations of her late father final 12 months on Instagram, writing that she finds it “personally disturbing” when individuals use AI to make an imitation of his voice say no matter they need.
Different actors have spoken out towards AI deepfakes. On the picket line for SAG-AFTRA, Susan Sarandon known as deepfakes “soulless.” Keanu Reeves advised Wired final 12 months that deepfakes had been “scary” and an erasure of an actor’s standpoint, and Tom Hanks took to Instagram in 2023 to warn that an advert for a dental plan was utilizing an AI model of his voice and picture with out his consent.
Some actors have signed off on using AI to duplicate their voice or picture in particular situations. As an example, James Earl Jones agreed earlier than his demise to permit the know-how to recreate his iconic vocal efficiency as Darth Vader within the Star Wars universe for future tasks.
Downey starring in play analyzing AI and creative integrity
Downey made his Broadway debut this month in McNeal, a one-act play by Ayad Akhtar that delves into themes of synthetic intelligence, creative integrity, plagiarism and copyright infringement. The 59-year-old actor performs the titular character, Jacob McNeal, an acclaimed novellist whose battles with alcoholism and psychological sickness culminate at a vital juncture in his profession.
“I do not envy anybody who has been over-identified with the appearance of this new section of the knowledge age,” Downey stated within the podcast episode with Swisher. “The concept by some means it belongs to them as a result of they’ve these tremendous big startups is a fallacy.”
The episode additionally explored questions the play raises about reality and energy within the age of AI, and whether or not there’s a “social contract” associated to using AI.
Downey’s upcoming position as Physician Doom in Avengers: Doomsday will convey him again to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2026.