Opinion | Hank Azaria’s ‘Simpsons’ Voices Won’t Be Fully Replicated by A.I.
Feb 04, 2025
Hank Azaria is a voice actor for animated characters like Moe from "The Simpsons." He worries that artificial intelligence (A.I.) could take over his job by copying his voice. Hank puts a lot of himself into his characters, not just the sound. A.I. may be able to mimic his voice, but it might not capture the human touch he adds.
Hank explains that voice acting involves more than just talking. It also includes using your body and emotions to bring characters to life. He shares how he creates voices for characters like Chief Wiggum or Comic Book Guy. He even improvises during recording sessions to make the dialogue more natural.
Hank worries about A.I. replacing human actors completely. While A.I. can make sounds, it may struggle to capture the emotions that make performances believable. He believes that true artistry comes from human actors who understand the characters they play.
However, Hank sees some potential benefits to A.I. in voice acting. It could help recreate classic performances, like Mel Blanc's Bugs Bunny. A.I. could provide more options for different takes on lines, but ultimately, it may still need human direction.
In the end, Hank hopes that A.I. won't completely take over voice acting. He believes that human emotion and understanding are essential for creating compelling performances. While A.I. may have its uses, Hank values the unique touch that only a human voice actor can provide.