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Robert Downey Jr. isn’t someone who shies away from sharing his brutally honest thoughts on a tricky subject matter. He recently, took a sharp aim at Elon Musk, claiming he wishes the Tesla owner controlled his behavior slightly more. Now, the Iron Man star has shared his thoughts on artificial intelligence (AI).
The Oscar winner went as far as to threaten future Marvel executives with a lawsuit if they ever dared recreate his iconic MCU character using an AI likeness of him. Along the same lines, Downey Jr. also candidly confessed why he stays away from engaging with AI companies in any way.
Real Reason Robert Downey Jr. Despises AI Companies
Robert Downey Jr. was confronted with some pressing questions during his recent appearance on “On With Kara Swisher” podcast. Most importantly, this new interview made theAvengers: Endgamelegend’s feelings about the advent of AI painfully clear.
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The star who has mademulti-millions from Marvelunhesitatingly bashed AI companies for thinking that the new information age belongs to them. Seemingly taking aim at OpenAI’s Sam Altman and others like him, Downey Jr. said it’s a“massive f*ing error”that personalities like these want to maintain a good public image, despite their questionable actions. He further accused people heading AI startups and companies of“not being truthful.”
His exact words were:
The problem is when these individuals believe that they are the arbiters of managing this but meanwhile are wanting and/or needing to be seen in a favorable light. That is a massive f***ing error. It turns me off and makes me not want to engage with them because they are not being truthful.
TheOppenheimerstar’s blunt comments come on the heels ofScarlett Johansson‘s recent controversy with OpenAI CEO Altman over the use of a voice “eerily similar” to hers for their chatbot. He is also among the few in Hollywood who have openly spoken out against AI companies.
While theIron Man 2star won’t appreciate an AI recreation of himself, he will surely love aRussian scientist’s recreation of his superhero’s suit.
How Likely Is Marvel to Recreate Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man With AI?
Downey Jr. has unabashedly threatened to sue any futureMarvelexecutive trying to recreate his Iron Man using AI. He said,
Well, you’re right. I would like to here state that I intend to sue.
He also claimed his law firm wouldn’t hesitate to uphold his wishes to sue those tarnishing his Marvel legacy even after he’s long dead. When the host said, “You’ll be dead” to his earlier comments, he quipped, “But my law firm will still be very active.”
It’s a no-brainer that Marvel could make an enemy out of every single one of its fans if they dared recreate Downey Jr.’s Iron Man with AI. However, the whole topic makes one think if Marvel will ever dare to do so.
What about 50 years down the line when the generation that grew up with his Iron Man doesn’t have the loudest voice on social media anymore? Or when the existing Marvel executives who worked closely with Downey have passed on the reigns to newer ones who don’t have quite the same connection with the star.
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In a world that largely runs on profit rather than morals, one can wonder, will the new executives at Downey’s law firm still uphold his wishes decades down the line in the face of an enticing offer from AI companies? These entities are already forming close ties with the Entertainment business, namely their recent alliances with James Cameron and Lionsgate. The answer to all these questions could very well be a yes, given the actor’s whopping legacy, and that’s the hope of every fan.
The use of AI to recreate characters on-screen has already begun. For instance, we saw Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia inRogue One: A Star Wars Story. Disney even faced a lawsuit for using actor Peter Cushing’s AI likeness in the same film, a case that’s still ongoing.
Disha Kandpal
Content Lead
Articles Published :28
With four years of experience as an entertainment journalist, Disha Kandpal has written over 5000 articles for websites like HITC, Reality TitBit, The Focus, Celebrity Tidbit, Republic World, and more. When she isn’t chasing after the latest entertainment news, Disha can be found at the theatre, getting hyped over the latest superhero/action release or laying in her bed watching Star Wars.
