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Robert Downey Jr. Says He ‘Intends To Sue’ All Future Executives Who Use His AI Replica
Los Angeles — Robert Downey Jr. believes Marvel officials would never use artificial intelligence to reproduce his portrayal of Tony Stark. But if they did, he would take legal action, even if it was after his death.
On a recent episode of the “On With Kara Swisher” podcast, the Oscar-winning actor stated that he plans to “sue all future executives” who let an AI-created version of himself. When asked about his position as Iron Man, Downey stated that he does not want his likeness reproduced by AI technology.
“I am not worried about them hijacking my character’s soul because there’s like three or four guys and gals who make all the decisions there anyway and they would never do that to me, with or without me,” Downey told the crowd.
Swisher mentioned that those executives would eventually be replaced.
Robert Downey Jr. Says He ‘Intends To Sue’ All Future Executives Who Use His AI Replica
“Well, you’re right,” Downey replied. “I would like to here state that I intend to sue all future executives just on spec.”
“You’ll be dead,” Swisher stated.
Downey responded, “But my law firm will still be very active.”
Representatives for Marvel Studios or Downey did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The talk comes amid the Hollywood video game performers’ strike, which began in July after more than 18 months of discussions over a new interactive media pact with game industry behemoths failed over artificial intelligence safeguards.
Leaders of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have described the labor dispute—and AI in particular—as an existential crisis for actors. Concerns over how movie companies would deploy AI contributed to the union’s four-month film and television strike last year. SAG-AFTRA ultimately reached an agreement requiring filmmakers to obtain the informed consent of actors whose digital reproductions are used.
A representative for SAG-AFTRA stated that Downey has the right to refuse any digital duplicate uses in the film due to California’s new legislation barring the unlawful recreation of a deceased performer’s likeness without prior approval. The union pushed the measure, which California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September.
Downey debuted on Broadway this month in Ayad Akhtar’s one-act play “McNeal,” which explores artificial intelligence, artistic integrity, plagiarism, and copyright infringement. The 59-year-old actor plays the title character, Jacob McNeal, an accomplished novelist whose struggles with drinking and mental illness come to a head at a critical point in his career.
Robert Downey Jr. Says He ‘Intends To Sue’ All Future Executives Who Use His AI Replica
“I don’t envy anyone who has been over-identified with the advent of this new phase of the information age,” Downey told the crowd. “The idea that somehow it belongs to them because they have these super huge start-ups is a fallacy.”
The podcast episode discussed the play’s themes of truth and power in the age of AI and whether there is a “social contract” around the usage of AI.
SOURCE | AP
