Hank Azaria says idea of AI replacing him on ‘The Simpsons’ makes him ‘sad’

• Hank Azaria, a longtime star of “The Simpsons,” raises concerns about AI replicating voices without capturing human artistry. In a New York Times op-ed, he questions whether AI can ever replicate the full experience of voice acting.
• Azaria argues that AI lacks the emotional depth of human performances and emphasizes that voice acting involves full-body movements.
• He stresses that real performances require craftsmanship, and he is not alone in questioning AI’s role in entertainment.

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Hank Azaria is raising concerns about artificial intelligence in voice acting. The longtime star of “The Simpsons” fears AI could replicate voices without capturing human artistry.

In a New York Times op-ed, Azaria discussed AI’s growing ability to mimic speech. He questions whether a machine can ever replicate the full experience of voice acting.

Azaria has been in the industry for nearly 40 years. He is best known for voicing multiple characters on “The Simpsons,” including Moe Szyslak and Chief Wiggum.

Beyond Springfield, he has voiced Gargamel in “The Smurfs” reboot (2011) and numerous other animated characters.

The human touch in voice acting

Azaria argued that AI lacks the emotional depth of human performances. He emphasized that voice acting is more than just sound — it involves full-body movements.

“There’s so much of who I am that goes into creating a voice,” Azaria writes. “How can the computer conjure all that?”

He shared that he often feels embarrassed watching himself in the recording booth. However, he said that those physical gestures help bring characters to life in a way AI cannot.

AI in Hollywood: A growing concern

Azaria is not alone in questioning AI’s role in entertainment. Recently, “The Brutalist” faced backlash after an editor revealed AI was used to enhance Hungarian accents for actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones.

Azaria closed his op-ed by stressing that real performances require craftsmanship.

“Believability is earned through craftsmanship, with good storytelling and good performances, good cinematography and good directing and a good script and good music,” he concluded.