In a significant move bridging Hollywood and artificial intelligence, Oscar-winning actors Sir Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey have officially signed voice partnership deals with the AI audio company ElevenLabs.
The agreement grants the New York-based firm permission to create AI-generated versions of their distinctive voices. This partnership is presented as a strategic effort to address ethical concerns within the growing alliance between the AI industry and the entertainment world.
The Details of the AI Voice Partnership
Matthew McConaughey, an Academy Award winner for Dallas Buyers Club, is not just lending his voice; he has also become an investor in ElevenLabs. The actor, who has collaborated with the company since 2022, will now have his newsletter, Lyrics of Livin', translated into a Spanish-language audio version using his own AI-cloned voice.
In a public statement, McConaughey expressed that he was "impressed" by the technology and sees the partnership as a way to "reach and connect with even more people" globally. His voice is already featured on the company's ElevenReader app, which enables users to have emails or books read to them by celebrity voices.
Introducing the Iconic Voices Marketplace
This announcement coincides with the launch of ElevenLabs' Iconic Voices Marketplace. This new platform will allow brands to license officially approved celebrity voices for AI-generated projects. Sir Michael Caine's iconic, gravelly voice is one of the flagship additions to this lineup.
Caine released a powerful statement regarding his involvement: "For years, I've lent my voice to stories that moved people – tales of courage, of wit, of the human spirit. Now, I'm helping others find theirs. With ElevenLabs, we can preserve and share voices – not just mine, but anyone's."
The veteran actor emphasised that the company's mission is to "use innovation not to replace humanity, but to celebrate it", framing the technology as a tool for amplification rather than replacement.
The Broader AI Trend in Entertainment
This deal is part of a wider trend of celebrities engaging with AI technology. The Iconic Voices Marketplace also features a roster of other famous voices, including living legends like Liza Minnelli and Art Garfunkel, and late icons such as John Wayne, Judy Garland, and Rock Hudson. The list even extends beyond cinema to include historical figures like aviator Amelia Earhart, scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, and poet Maya Angelou.
ElevenLabs, recently valued at an impressive $6.6 billion, is not alone in this space. Last year, Meta announced a similar initiative, securing voice rights from major stars including Dame Judi Dench, John Cena, and Kristen Bell. Other A-list actors like Ashton Kutcher and Leonardo DiCaprio have also chosen to invest directly in AI companies.
The news follows Caine's recent revelation that he is coming out of retirement to star alongside Vin Diesel in The Last Witch Hunter 2, proving that while he is embracing futuristic technology, his live-action career is far from over.
