Robert Downey Jr. Unhappy With AI Usage In Hollywood

October 29, 2024: Robert Downey Jr. has expressed strong opposition to the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recreate his likeness, especially in relation to reviving his iconic character, Tony Stark (Iron Man), from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In a recent conversation on On With Kara Swisher, he discussed the implications of AI in storytelling alongside playwright Ayad Akhtar and director Bartlett Sher.

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When asked about his feelings on deepfakes and AI, Downey remarked, “There’s two tracks. How do I feel about everything that’s going on? I feel about it minimally because I have an actual emotional life that’s occurring that doesn’t have a lot of room for that.” Despite his concerns, he expressed trust in the current leadership at Marvel, noting that the decision-makers would never compromise the essence of his character.

Downey humorously added that he intends to “sue all future executives just on spec,” acknowledging the potential for different intentions from future leadership. He also touched on his investments in AI companies, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations, asking, “Who are the people involved with this? Do I think they have a moral psychology?”

Currently, Downey is starring in the stage play McNeal, where he plays a Nobel Prize-winning novelist who uses AI to write a new work. Although the production has received mixed reviews, his performance has been well-received.

Looking ahead, Downey is set to reprise his role in the MCU as Dr. Doom in the upcoming films Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.