According to multiple media reports, social media giant Meta is actively negotiating to introduce the voices of several renowned actors and internet celebrities into its artificial intelligence products. This new feature could make its debut as early as the Meta Connect conference in September this year.
Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing知情人士, that Meta is in talks with top Hollywood talent agencies in hopes of reaching an agreement soon. It is rumored that stars such as Judi Dench, Keegan-Michael Key, and Awkwafina might become spokespersons for Meta's AI products. The New York Times reported that these celebrity voices will be used in a digital assistant product named "MetaAI".
Insiders revealed that Meta is willing to pay each signed actor "millions of dollars" in remuneration. These contracts are reportedly temporary, and actors can choose whether to renew upon expiration. Meta plans to apply these AI voices in its social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses.
Industry insiders point out that, unlike traditional celebrity voice navigation, new-generation AI technology has made significant strides in mimicking human voices. If Meta's AI assistant can achieve the same functions as the regular version, this celebrity voice experience might be more natural and engaging.
As of the time of writing, Meta has not yet made an official response to this matter. With the approaching of the September Meta Connect conference, the industry will closely watch Meta's latest developments in the AI field.