Movies

The Simpsons legend reveals heartbreaking reason he fears “being replaced” on show

BBG News

Actor Hank Azaria, known for his role on The Simpsons, voiced concerns that artificial intelligence might one day replace human voice actors. He stated that the essence of a character’s tone comes from both the physicality and emotional investment put in by the actor during the process of finding their voice.

Azaria, the voice behind characters like Moe the bartender, Chief Wiggum, Snake, and others on the animated series, has openly explored the prospect of being replaced by artificial intelligence in a frank, interactive article published in The New York Times.

He remarked that it’s likely that advanced artificial intelligence will eventually mimic the voices of over 100 characters from “The Simpsons” that he has developed over nearly four decades.

It’s quite disheartening to contemplate such a situation. Furthermore, it feels utterly unjust to misuse someone’s image or voice – not just mine, but anyone’s.

As he’s played Moe for 36 years, Azaria said AI would be working with a lot of material.

AI might be able to analyze 36 years worth of appearances by Moe, the consistently grumpy bartender from ‘The Simpsons’. Throughout these episodes, Moe has been portrayed as fearful, smitten, concussed, and generally filled with bitterness.

Through numerous methods, I’ve found myself laughing like Moe on many occasions. I’d say I’ve let out a sigh as Moe close to a hundred times. For an AI learning process, this provides a substantial amount of material to work with.

Azaria emphasized that authenticity would be significantly lacking if AI took over his role as a voice actor, suggesting that human elements like our physical presence and emotional essence play a crucial part in creating genuine believability.

“A voice is not just a sound,” he said.

It’s intriguing to imagine an AI replicating Moe, Snake, or Chief Wiggum’s voice, but there will always be something lacking – the human touch. A significant part of my identity is embedded within my speech.

The performer and humorist believes that AI can’t fully replicate the nuances of a human voice acting performance, “for now”, at least.

“The body and soul part will be harder,” Azaria concluded.

During the talks between film studios and the SAG-AFTRA union, one contentious issue was the protection of rights associated with AI in movies – this dispute ultimately resulted in the actor’s strike that took place in July 2023, marking the first such event since 1980.

The demonstration concluded in November 2023, marking the point where a preliminary three-year agreement was reached by both sides.

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2025-02-07 01:49

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