Ahead of the 51st César Awards on Thursday, France's biggest film awards, 4,000 French actors and filmmakers have condemned "systematic plundering" of their work by artificial intelligence tools, which reproduce their voices or images.
"We are facing a profound change in our profession since the advent of artificial intelligence [AI]. This tool, which is extraordinarily valuable for certain professions, is also a devouring hydra for artists like us," wrote the signatories in a text published by Le Parisien newspaper on Sunday.
They include actors Swann Arlaud, Gérard Jugnot, Karine Viard, Franck Dubosc and José Garcia, Léa Drucker and Élodie Bouchez.
"The cloning of actors' voices without their permission is becoming commonplace," the open letter continues, adding that "not a week goes by without an artist warning about the brutal competition that AI is putting on their work".
"Sometimes hundreds of less established artists, who often cannot afford to turn down a contract, surrender their rights to AI, despite the risks to their image and their future."
"This systematic plundering is not a fantasy, it is happening here and now. It is unbearable and it is happening right before our eyes," they warn, calling for a "legal framework" so that "AI can coexist with the work of artists and respect for copyright and related rights".
‘By humans, for humans’: French dubbing industry speaks out against AI threat
Dubbing industry under threat
There has been a surge in initiatives within the profession over the last few months in response to the threat posed by AI to the industry, and the flood of content that reproduces artists and their voices almost perfectly.
At the end of January, eight French actors specialising in dubbing sent formal notices to two American companies that had cloned their voices without their consent.
Actors recently took to the streets in Paris and launched a collective called Touche pas ma VF ("hands off my VF" – for Version française).
It's calling for "dubbing created by humans for humans", and has launched a petition that has garnered nearly 250,000 signatures.
Europe's voice actors call for tougher regulation of AI technology
In early 2025, the dubbing world was shocked by an excerpt from the Sylvester Stallone film Armor in which the voice of Alain Dorval, the actor who had long dubbed Stallone, was modelled by AI.
Not only was the result deemed poor by the industry, but the actor had died in February 2024, raising ethical questions.
"AI is taking away artists' jobs. Can we do without artists in society? " actress Brigitte Lecordier told RFI at the time. "AI does not create. It reproduces a mediocre version of what has already been done."
The debate extends beyond France. Last week, Chinese software Seedance 2.0 was accused by major Hollywood studios of "massive" copyright infringements after releasing an AI-generated video showing a fight between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.
(with AFP)
