Michael Caine Says Licensing His Voice to Matthew McConaughey-Backed AI Audio Company Is ‘Using Innovation Not to Replace Humanity, But to Celebrate It’
Hollywood stars Matthew McConaughey and Sir Michael Caine have licensed their voices to ElevenLabs, an AI audio company which hosts a library of celebrities — both living and dead.
The announcement comes alongside the launch of ElevenLabs’ Iconic Voices Marketplace, a storefront for celebrity voices that brands can pay to reproduce. This includes deceased actors such as Judy Garland, and historical figures such as J Robert Oppenheimer.
Dark Knight and The Muppet Chrismas Carol legend Caine is also now one of the celebrities that brands can pay to use. “For years, I’ve lent my voice to stories that moved people – tales of courage, of wit, of the human spirit,” Caine said in a statement. “Now, I’m helping others find theirs.
Michael Caine. Image credit: Lia Toby/Getty Images.
“With ElevenLabs, we can preserve and share voices — not just mine, but anyone’s,” Caine continued. “ElevenLabs is at the very forefront of technology, using innovation not to replace humanity, but to celebrate it… It’s not about replacing voices; it’s about amplifying them, opening doors for new storytellers everywhere.”
In September, the 92-year-old actor surprised fans by announcing he would come out of retirement to make a sequel to a Vin Diesel movie from a decade ago. The Last Witch Hunter 2 is reportedly being “fast-tracked through development,” with Caine and Diesel both expected to reprise their former roles.
McConaughey, meanwhile, said he had invested an undisclosed sum in ElevenLabs after being “impressed” by the company. As an example of how his voice will be used, the actor linked to a Spanish-language version of his newsletter — Lyrics of Livin’ — created using the AI reproduction of his voice, and said it would allow him to “reach and connect with even more people.”
Earlier this year, Fortnite developer Epic Games raised eyebrows by allowing players to chat with a generative AI version of Darth Vader within the game, voiced by a licensed reproduction of the late James Earl Jones. But while the use of AI voices is becoming more widespread, not everyone is a fan. Last year, Sir David Attenborough issued a strongly-worded statement saying he was “profoundly disturbed” that AI was being used to have him say pretty much anything.
Image credit: Lia Toby/Getty Images.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
