Wed Sep 25 02:00:24 UTC 2024: ## Meta to Feature Celebrity Voices for its AI Assistant

**San Francisco, CA** – Meta is reportedly set to launch a new feature for its AI assistant, incorporating the voices of several high-profile celebrities. John Cena, Kristen Bell, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, and Judi Dench are among the stars who have allegedly signed on to lend their voices to the AI chatbot.

This move comes as Meta seeks to stand out in the increasingly competitive field of generative AI assistants, vying for users alongside prominent players like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. The celebrity voices, while seemingly gimmicky, could be a powerful tool for attracting attention and differentiating Meta’s offering.

The agreement with the celebrities includes their voices as options for the AI, alongside more generic options. Notably, all the chosen celebrities enjoy widespread fame, have roles recognized by children, and have appeared in both family-friendly and adult-oriented media.

Financial details of the agreement are undisclosed, but reports suggest hefty paychecks for the celebrities involved. This move contrasts with OpenAI’s recent controversy over accusations that one of ChatGPT’s voices closely resembled Scarlett Johansson’s in the movie Her.

The use of celebrity voices in AI technology has sparked concerns within the entertainment industry, particularly as actors and writers recently went on strike over AI-related concerns. SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, is rumored to have a deal with Meta regarding the use of actors’ voices, although no official announcement has been made.

Meta’s focus on celebrity voices is not unique. Google is developing AI chatbots of famous people and fictional characters for YouTube. Even Meta’s plan to allow users to create custom AI chatbots based on themselves is being pursued by companies like Character.ai and others.

Meta’s strategy of incorporating celebrity voices into its AI projects aligns with previous attempts. Earlier this year, the company launched text-based Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp chatbots with celebrity likenesses. However, those chatbots have since been rebranded without celebrity branding.

Amazon’s experience with voice assistants like Alexa offers a mixed message. While initially featuring the voices of Samuel L. Jackson, Melissa McCarthy, Shaquille O’Neal, and Amitabh Bachchan, Amazon later removed these options.

Meta is anticipated to unveil a plethora of AI news at its Connect conference this year, and the celebrity voice feature is expected to be a major announcement. The project is likely to be promoted enthusiastically by the celebrities involved, further increasing its visibility.

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