Tony Stark may rely on AI to help build and pilot his Iron Man armor, but actor Robert Downey Jr. will go after any executive who thinks of using AI to replicate him for a role. Downey made his feelings clear about a new one episode from the podcast ‘On With Kara Swisher’, where he discussed AI, deepfake technology and his antipathy to any attempt to recreate him with AI, even after he passes away.
Downey isn’t too concerned about the future push by Marvel Studios to insert an AI replica of him into future films without his consent. The temptation is obvious since Downey’s most famous role launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe and he’s even returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom in the upcoming film. Avengers: Doomsday film. Funnily enough, both characters are known for their use of AI and advanced technology, with Doom in particular sending out an endless series of robot duplicates with AI versions of his mind and personality to do his bidding. Still, he trusts that the studio’s leadership will not betray him.
“And going back to the MCU, I’m not worried about them hijacking my character’s soul, because there are three or four guys and gals there making all the decisions anyway. And they would never do that to me, with or without me,” Downey said on the podcast.
Host Kara Swisher pointed out that it’s more about what will happen after he dies, but Downey had an answer for that: “Well, you’re right. And I would like to say here that I intend to sue all future executives. to specification,” he stated.
“You’ll be dead,” Swisher countered, to which Downey quickly responded, “But my law firm will still be very active.”
Eternal battle against AI
The Oscar winner is hardly alone among actors wary of AI duplicates, an issue crucial to the strike and eventual deal struck by the recent Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strikes this year. Downey’s opinion may be strengthened by law thanks to a bill from California lawmakers that would ban the unauthorized replication of deceased actors.
On the other hand, some actors seem to be fine with AI taking on their iconic roles, as long as they and their ultimate estate approve and are compensated. For example, James Earl Jones agreed to let Disney use his voice for future Darth Vader projects before his recent death. His contract specifies how and when his AI voice clone can be used.
Jones isn’t the only celebrity to allow AI companies to replicate their voice or face. Meta scored deals with many celebrities, including John Cena, Keegan Michael Key and Kristen Bell, to voice its Meta AI assistant. ElevenLabs did the same with Deepak Chopra for its Reader app. , and reached a deal with the estates of James Dean, Burt Reynolds, Judy Garland and Sir Laurence Olivier to add AI versions of their voices to the app. Not every artist has the resources to resist the potential AI deepfakes that could be produced. That’s why AI’s place in Hollywood was a major sticking point during the strike.
Downey has been immersed in questions about AI and art thanks to his recent performance on Broadway McNeal. In the drama, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar, Downey plays a renowned author who fights against the takeover of creative projects by AI and how artists and audiences must grapple with the implications of the technology. It’s not much different from what Downey said in the interview, including criticizing the way AI developers sometimes hint or outright proclaim that AI is a key to saving the creative industries. ChatGPT is no Ultron, but Downey is just as likely to oppose some of what AI could do to actors, writers, and other creators, just as Iron Man battled murderous AI on the big screen.