Hollywood Actors Who Are Pro-AI

While much of Hollywood has expressed deep skepticism regarding artificial intelligence, a select group of actors has embraced the technology as a powerful tool for creativity and preservation. These figures often view AI as a means to enhance storytelling, democratize visual effects, or secure their legacies for future generations. They have invested in tech startups or consented to the use of digital cloning to achieve performances that would be physically impossible. The following actors have publicly supported or utilized AI advancements in their careers.

Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher faced significant backlash from the creative community after he praised the capabilities of OpenAI’s video generator Sora. The ‘Two and a Half Men’ star argued that the tool would eventually enable anyone to render a full feature film without a massive budget. He suggested that the technology would lead to a boom in creativity by lowering the barrier to entry for storytellers. Kutcher has heavily invested in artificial intelligence startups and views the shift as an inevitable evolution of the entertainment business.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer embraced artificial intelligence to restore his voice after losing his ability to speak due to throat cancer treatments. The actor partnered with the software firm Sonantic to create a neural voice model based on hours of his archival audio footage. This technology allowed him to speak with a synthesized version of his younger voice in the film ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. Kilmer described the result as a gift that enabled him to communicate and perform in ways that were no longer physically possible.

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones signed over the rights to his iconic voice performance as Darth Vader to the AI audio company Respeecher before his passing. The veteran actor wished to ensure that the character could continue to appear in ‘Star Wars’ projects like ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ without his direct involvement. He guided the sound engineers on how to properly utilize the archival data to generate new dialogue for the villain. His decision established a major precedent for how actors can manage their digital legacies using generative technology.

Tye Sheridan

Tye Sheridan co-founded the AI technology company Wonder Dynamics with the goal of making visual effects accessible to independent filmmakers. The ‘Ready Player One’ actor championed a platform that uses artificial intelligence to automatically animate digital characters over live-action performances. He believes that these tools empower artists by removing the high financial barrier previously required for CGI-heavy storytelling. Sheridan sold his company to Autodesk and continues to advocate for the integration of tech solutions in the creative process.

William Shatner

William Shatner partnered with the company StoryFile to create an interactive artificial intelligence hologram of himself for future generations. The ‘Star Trek’ legend spent days recording answers to hundreds of questions which the system uses to hold conversational interactions with viewers. He views the technology as a way to preserve his memories and personality with total accuracy long after he is gone. Shatner has frequently expressed his fascination with the futuristic possibilities of combining humanity and machines.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford defended the extensive use of artificial intelligence to de-age his character in the film ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’. The actor dismissed concerns about the technology by stating that it was simply a tool used to support the narrative of the movie. He explained that the software utilized valid footage from his decades of work for Lucasfilm to create a realistic approximation of his younger face. Ford argued that the result was skillful and effective for the specific requirements of the story.

Please share your thoughts on the positive applications of artificial intelligence in Hollywood in the comments.