Talking on a podcast about his position as Iron Man, Downey stated he doesn’t need his likeness recreated by AI expertise.
LOS ANGELES — Robert Downey Jr. would not assume Marvel executives would ever recreate his portrayal of Tony Stark utilizing synthetic intelligence. But when they did, he would lawyer up — even posthumously.
On a latest episode of the “On With Kara Swisher” podcast, the Oscar-winning actor stated he intends to “sue all future executives” who enable an AI-created model of him. Talking about his position as Iron Man, Downey stated he doesn’t need his likeness recreated by AI expertise.
“I’m not anxious about them hijacking my character’s soul as a result of there’s like three or 4 guys and gals who make all the choices there anyway and they’d by no means try this to me, with or with out me,” Downey stated.
Swisher famous that these executives would finally get replaced.
“Properly, you’re proper,” Downey stated. “I want to right here state that I intend to sue all future executives simply on spec.”
“You’ll be useless,” Swisher stated.
Downey replied: “However my regulation agency will nonetheless be very energetic.”
Representatives for Marvel Studios and for Downey didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The dialogue comes amid the Hollywood online game performers’ strike, which started in July after greater than 18 months of negotiations over a brand new interactive media settlement with recreation trade giants broke down over synthetic intelligence protections.
Leaders of the Display screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Tv and Radio Artists have billed the problems behind the labor dispute — and AI particularly — as an existential disaster for performers. Considerations about how film studios will use AI helped gasoline final yr’s movie and tv strikes by the union, which lasted 4 months. SAG-AFTRA finally signed a deal requiring productions to get the knowledgeable consent of actors whose digital replicas are used.
A spokesperson for SAG-AFTRA stated that Downey has the proper to disclaim any digital reproduction makes use of in movie due to California’s new regulation prohibiting the unauthorized replication of a useless performer’s likenesses with out prior consent. That regulation, signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, was sponsored by the union.
Downey made his Broadway debut this month in “McNeal,” a one-act play by Ayad Akhtar that delves into themes of synthetic intelligence, creative integrity, plagiarism and copyright infringement. The 59-year-old actor performs the titular character, Jacob McNeal, an acclaimed novelist whose battles with alcoholism and psychological sickness culminate at an important juncture in his profession.
“I don’t envy anybody who has been over-identified with the arrival of this new section of the knowledge age,” Downey stated. “The concept one way or the other it belongs to them as a result of they’ve these tremendous big start-ups is a fallacy.”
The podcast episode explored questions the play raises about fact and energy within the age of AI, and whether or not there’s a “social contract” associated to the usage of AI.
Downey’s upcoming position as Physician Doom in “Avengers: Doomsday” will carry him again to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2026.
