00:00As AI continues to evolve at a rapid pace, an increasing number of celebrities such as
00:06David Attenborough, Scarlett Johansson, and Robert Downey Jr. are speaking out.
00:11Beloved nature documentary narrator David Attenborough is raising alarms about AI, particularly
00:16the use of technology to replicate his distinctive voice.
00:20In a recent segment for the BBC, which aired on November 19th, Attenborough responded to
00:26AI-generated imitations of his voice, saying,
00:29"'Having spent a lifetime trying to speak what I believe to be the truth, I am profoundly
00:34disturbed to find that my identity is now being stolen by others.
00:38I greatly object to them using my voice to say whatever they wish.'"
00:42Actress Scarlett Johansson has also spoken out against AI, after becoming a victim of
00:46deepfakes in 2018, and more recently in May of 2024, when OpenAI revealed a voice model
00:53that closely resembled hers.
00:55Johansson expressed her shock and anger upon hearing the demo, stating,
00:59"'When I heard the release demo, I was shocked, angered, and in disbelief that Mr. Altman,
01:04the OpenAI CEO, would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine that my
01:09closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference.'"
01:13However, not all stars view AI as a dangerous development.
01:17Robert Downey Jr., in true Tony Stark fashion, sees AI as a powerful tool for positive change.
01:23In June of 2019, at an Amazon AI conference, Downey announced his initiative, the Footprint
01:29Coalition, a project aimed at using advanced technologies like robotics and nanotech to
01:34fight pollution.
01:36At the conference, Downey shared his optimistic view, saying,
01:39"'Between robotics and nanotechnology, we could clean up the planet significantly,
01:44if not totally, within 10 years.'"
01:46But Downey's stance on AI took a more cautionary turn when discussing its use in the entertainment
01:51industry.
01:52Early on with Kara Fisher Podcast, in October of 2023, he made it clear how he feels about
01:58the possibility of executives using AI to resurrect his iconic character, Tony Stark,
02:04sharing,
02:05"'I would like to here state that I intend to sue all future executives just on spec.'"
02:10In a surprising twist, tech mogul Elon Musk, known for his deep involvement in AI, has
02:16voiced significant concerns about the future of the technology.
02:20In 2023, he called for a moratorium on AI development until stronger regulations are
02:25in place.
02:26At a tech conference that year, Musk warned about the potential dangers of unchecked AI,
02:31stating,
02:32"'There's a non-zero chance of it going terminator.
02:35It's not zero percent.
02:36There's a small likelihood of annihilating humanity, but it's not zero.
02:41We want that probability to be as close to zero as possible.'"
02:45As AI continues to evolve, the debate rages on.
02:47Will this tech be used for good, or could it pose a threat to our very existence?
02:52Time will tell, but one thing is certain, the voices of those at the forefront of this
02:56conversation, like Attenborough, Johansson, Downey Jr, and Musk, are shaping how we understand
03:02the future of AI.
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