“Hank Azaria Reveals His Surprising Fears About AI Taking Over Iconic Simpsons Roles—Is the Future of Voice Acting in Jeopardy?”
Added on February 7, 2025 inEntertainment News Cards, Movie News Cards
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In a world where artificial intelligence is becoming ever more sophisticated, one of the iconic voices of “The Simpsons,” Hank Azaria, is grappling with the unsettling notion that he could soon be outperformed by a machine. Can you imagine a digital version of Moe Szyslak serving you up beer with the same charm as the original? According to Azaria, it’s becoming a terrifying possibility. Recently, he shared his apprehensions in an eye-opening op-ed piece, revealing his worries about the future of his craft and the unique essence that only a human performer can deliver. If the technology can mimic voices and performances, what happens to the heart and soul behind the art? As Azaria ponders these questions, he’s not alone; many in the entertainment industry are voicing their concerns over the potential loss of authenticity and the very essence that makes performance relatable. What does it mean for actors when AI starts to playfully mimic them, and can it truly capture the nuance of human emotion? Click here to dive deeper into Azaria’s thoughts and the ongoing debate around this pressing issue—it’s definitely worth a read. LEARN MORE.
With the capabilities of AI growing, Hank Azaria fears its a matter of time before he’s replaced by the technology.
Recently, Nicolas Cage would address his growing concern about AI in his acceptance speech at the Saturn Awards, where he won Best Actor for Dream Scenario. Cage had stated, “But there is another world that is also disturbing me. It’s happening right now around all of us: the new AI world. I am a big believer in not letting robots dream for us. Robots cannot reflect the human condition for us. That is a dead end if an actor lets one AI robot manipulate his or her performance even a little bit, an inch will eventually become a mile and all integrity, purity and truth of art will be replaced by financial interests only. We can’t let that happen.”
As the technology evolves, so does the fear of artists. Many know AI is being used in certain facets of film and TV, but a great deal has spoken out about the notion that some may be out of work due to it being used for cost-cutting. Hank Azaria has recently released an op-ed piece in The Hollywood Reporter where he faces his own fears about inevitably being replaced. He writes,
I imagine that soon enough, artificial intelligence will be able to re-create the sounds of the more than 100 voices I created for characters on The Simpsons over almost four decades. It makes me sad to think about it. Not to mention, it seems just plain wrong to steal my likeness or sound — or anyone else’s.”
The Simpsons star went on to say, “In my case, AI could have access to 36 years of Moe, the permanently disgruntled bartender. He’s appeared in just about every episode of The Simpsons. He’s been terrified, in love, hit in the head and, most often, in a state of bitter hatred. I’ve laughed as Moe in dozens of ways by now. I’ve probably sighed as Moe 100 times. In terms of training AI, that’s a lot to work with.”
Azaria emphasized the heart of performing that has to be behind the voice to make it, not just the sound. He professes that “our bodies and souls” make the character, as well as their talent for improvisation. He adds, “I’d like to think that no matter how much an AI version of Moe or Snake or Chief Wiggum will sound like my voice, something will still be missing — the humanness. There’s so much of who I am that goes into creating a voice. How can the computer conjure all that?” He, then, presents the questions, “What will the lack of humanness sound like? How big will the difference be? I honestly don’t know, but I think it will be enough, at least in the near term, that we’ll notice something is off, in the same way that we notice something’s amiss in a subpar film or TV show.”
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