Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman has once again voiced strong opposition to the unauthorized use of artificial intelligence, particularly when it comes to replicating his iconic voice.

Speaking recently with The Guardian, Freeman expressed frustration over AI technologies attempting to imitate his voice without his consent. “I’m a little PO’d, you know,” he admitted. “I’m like any other actor: don’t mimic me with falseness. I don’t appreciate it, and I get paid for doing things like that. So if you’re going to do it without me, you’re robbing me.” His comments highlight growing concerns among performers about ownership, authenticity, and fair compensation in the age of AI.

The Now You See Me: Now You Don’t star revealed that his legal team has been working extensively to combat these violations. According to Freeman, his lawyers have been “very, very busy” identifying and removing instances where AI has used his likeness or voice without his knowledge. He added that there have been “quite a few” cases already uncovered, suggesting the problem is both widespread and ongoing.

This is not the first time Freeman has publicly addressed the issue. In June 2024, he took to X to thank fans who alerted him to AI-generated imitations of his voice circulating online. “Thank you to my incredible fans for your vigilance and support in calling out the unauthorized use of an A.I. voice imitating me,” he wrote. “Your dedication helps authenticity and integrity remain paramount. Grateful.” Freeman also included the hashtags “scam” and “IdentityProtection,” underscoring the seriousness of the matter and the potential for misuse.

The debate around AI has become increasingly heated in Hollywood, as performers and unions grapple with how emerging technologies intersect with creative labor. In September, SAG-AFTRA addressed concerns surrounding a computer-generated actress named Tilly Norwood, raising alarms about the broader implications of AI-generated performers.

“To be clear, ‘Tilly Norwood’ is not an actor,” SAG-AFTRA stated. “It’s a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation.” The union emphasized that such creations lack real-life experience, emotional depth, and genuine human perspective. From their standpoint, audiences are not interested in content that is disconnected from authentic human expression.

SAG-AFTRA further argued that AI-generated performers do not solve industry challenges but instead create new ones. By relying on uncredited and uncompensated performances, these technologies threaten to put actors out of work, undermine livelihoods, and devalue the artistry that comes from lived human experience. Freeman’s stance echoes these concerns, reinforcing the call for stronger protections, clearer regulations, and ethical boundaries as AI continues to reshape the entertainment industry.