Matthew McConaughey urges actors to own their AI likeness rights. [Image Source: THEMIRROR]
At a recent town hall hosted by Variety and CNN at the University of Texas at Austin, actors Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet urged young people to prepare themselves to guide the entertainment industry through the rapidly advancing presence of AI, emphasizing the importance of adapting rather than resisting. During this event, McConaughey discussed his decision to trademark his famous catchphrase from Dazed and Confused, highlighting his proactive stance on protecting one’s identity in an AI-driven future.
McConaughey Foresees AI’s Inevitable Dominance in Film
Responding to questions about artificial intelligence, McConaughey declared, “It’s coming. It’s already here,” acknowledging AI’s deepening impact. He warned against passively rejecting AI on moral grounds, stating,
“Don’t deny it. It’s not going to be enough to sit on the sidelines and make the moral plea that, ‘No, this is wrong.’ It’s not gonna last. There’s too much money to be made, and it’s too productive. So I say: Own yourself. Voice, likeness, et cetera. Trademark it. Whatever you gotta do, so when it comes, no one can steal you.”
This advice highlights the practical measures performers might need to take to safeguard their unique identities as AI technologies evolve.
AI and Personal Agency: Future Scenarios Imagined
McConaughey painted a picture of how AI could replicate actors in real-world scenarios, imagining technology digitally inserting performers into events where they cannot physically attend. He explained to Chalamet,
“They gotta come to you and go, ‘Timothée, I’d like you to be at my 50th birthday party in five months, and I’m gonna be in the Bahamas. I know you can’t be there in person, but I’m gonna halo you in and I want you as your character in ‘Marty Supreme,’”
adding,
“They can do that, but they’re gonna have to come to you to go, ‘Can I?’ Or they’re going to be in breach. And you’ll have the chance to be your own agency and go, ‘Yeah, for this amount.’ Or, ‘No.’”
This notion underscores the complex negotiations that could arise around AI-rendered performances and the necessity of actors retaining control over their likeness.
The Blurring Lines Between AI and Live Acting in Awards Considerations
McConaughey also reflected on how AI might reshape award categories and industry recognition. He questioned whether AI-generated performances will soon contend for Oscars alongside human actors, stating,
Image of: Matthew McConaughey
“It’s damn sure going to infiltrate our category. Does it become another category? Will we be, in five years, having ‘the best AI film’? ‘The best AI actor?’”
He recognized the increasing indistinguishability of AI-created personas from real actors and the challenges this will bring:
“It’s gonna get so good we’re not going to know the difference. That’s one of the big questions right now: the question of reality. It’s more hazy than ever — in a very exciting way, I think, but also a scary way. Prep for it. Own your own lane, so you at least have agency when it starts to trespass.”
Chalamet Highlights Generational Role in Shaping AI’s Future
Timothée Chalamet addressed the university audience, presenting a nuanced view of AI’s upcoming challenges and responsibilities. He assigned a significant role to Generation Z in determining how to coexist with AI, while also emphasizing intergenerational support. Chalamet stated,
“It’s going to be all of our war to wage — sounds confrontational, I don’t mean to say it like that — but it’s a dual responsibility,”
adding,
“Unfortunately for your generation, I think it’s going to be you guys that figure out how to integrate it. There’s a huge [responsibility for] people that are positions of power now, like myself, like Matthew, to safekeep so that doors stay open. Some of the roles I got that helped kickstart my career, I wouldn’t even know if they’re available today.”
Weighing Fatalism and Optimism in AI’s Industry Impact
Chalamet expressed a conflicted outlook, torn between caution and hope, acknowledging the inevitability of AI’s influence. He remarked,
“There’s a level of fatalism I feel,”
before adding,
“It will be on your generation, and mine to an extent, to know how to ethically integrate it, if at all, or do away with it. But the fatalist in me feels like this stuff is coming. And the dreamer in me wants to go, ‘Hey, if it enables a 19-year-old to produce something they couldn’t otherwise because there’s gatekeepers standing in the way, then [good].’ But ultimately, it’s not my place to say.”
This recognizes both the risks to traditional pathways and the potential for AI to democratize creative expression.
Connections to Past Industry Struggles Over Change
Drawing parallels to the tense negotiations during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, Chalamet noted the difficulties in securing protections against AI exploitation from studios. He recounted,
“In the last Screen Actors Guild negotiation that Fran Drescher tried to head off with the studios, it was a dicey. They didn’t really get the protections for the Screen Actors Guild that she was after. [AI is] a hard thing to advocate against. It would be like how [silent era filmmakers] said, ‘No, sound is fucked up, we can’t do that.’ Or when black-and-white went to color. ‘No, color’s fucked up.’ That would be [the studios’] argument.”
This historical perspective highlights the ongoing tension between technological innovation and industry resistance.
Chalamet’s Commitment to Keep Industry Opportunities Accessible
Despite uncertainties, Chalamet vowed to protect artists’ interests while recognizing that technological advancements are unstoppable. He concluded,
“I wanna keep the doors open for you guys. But someone’s gonna figure out how to do it all at once,”
and
“I’m fiercely protective of actors and artists in this industry. And equally, whatever tide is coming, it’s coming.”
This underscores a balance between safeguarding talent and embracing inevitable change.
Upcoming Town Hall Broadcast and Continuing Discussion
The in-depth conversation between McConaughey and Chalamet originally took place during the Variety and CNN town hall and is scheduled to air on February 21 at 7 p.m. on CNN, as well as streaming on the CNN app. The event also featured discussion around McConaughey’s Oscar-nominated role in Marty Supreme, further connecting AI’s future in entertainment to current critical recognition. As Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet highlight, navigating the rise of AI actors will require vigilance and innovation, signaling a fundamental shift in how performers protect their identities and craft in an evolving industry landscape.
