The voices of Academy Award winners Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine are now being digitally replicated for a new era of AI-driven content.
Both actors have partnered with the AI audio company ElevenLabs, a move that signals a significant step for celebrities and their estates in embracing artificial intelligence while also navigating the ethical concerns surrounding digital replicas.
Matthew McConaughey’s relationship with ElevenLabs goes beyond a contract. The actor is also an investor and longtime supporter of the New York-based company, having collaborated with them since 2022.
The Texas native is also an active customer, using his AI voice replica to break down language barriers for his personal projects. His popular newsletter, Lyrics of Livin’, will now be accessible to a broader audience with the launch of a Spanish-language audio version, all delivered using the synthetic version of his own voice.
In a video played at ElevenLabs’ inaugural Summit, McConaughey shared his enthusiasm for the company’s progress and creative potential.
“I’m proud to share that I’ve been an investor in ElevenLabs for several years now,” said McConaughey, adding that the technology unlocks “extraordinary storytelling capabilities and creative potential … something that stood out to me from the start and that speaks to me as a professional storyteller.”
Michael Caine’s voice joins the ‘iconic marketplace’
At the same Summit, ElevenLabs unveiled its Iconic Voice Marketplace. This platform allows brands and creators to ethically license AI-generated versions of famous voices for storytelling, campaigns, or narration projects.
Joining that lineup is Caine, the 92-year-old screen legend whose distinctive tone has narrated some of cinema’s most powerful moments. He described the partnership as a natural evolution of the storytelling process.
“For years, I’ve lent my voice to stories that moved people — tales of courage, of wit, of the human spirit. Now, I’m helping others find theirs,” Caine said in a statement. “With ElevenLabs, we can preserve and share voices — not just mine, but anyone’s. ElevenLabs is at the very forefront of technology, using innovation not to replace humanity, but to celebrate it.”
The Iconic Marketplace already features over 25 legendary voices, including Maya Angelou, John Wayne, Alan Turing, and Liza Minnelli. It offers what ElevenLabs calls a “performer-first approach” to voice licensing.
“It’s not about replacing voices; it’s about amplifying them, opening doors for new storytellers everywhere. I’ve spent a lifetime telling stories. ElevenLabs will help the next generation tell theirs,” Caine added.
The ethical AI challenge
The use of AI voices has been a contentious issue, often criticized for potentially replacing human actors and raising concerns about consent.
ElevenLabs is positioning its Iconic Marketplace as a solution to that very problem. The company’s CEO, Mati Staniszewski, stated that this new marketplace “demonstrates how AI can responsibly expand opportunities for studio and talent, while enhancing storytelling.”
Still, not everyone is cheering. As reported by Metro, social media users had mixed feelings about the deals. Some praised the innovation, while others accused the actors of “selling their souls to the devil.”
Critics argued that AI voices could threaten jobs for emerging artists. One user on X wrote, “This is gonna take jobs from young guys tryna get into the industry.” Another added, “No please don’t normalise this, it’s gonna harm a lot of artists.”
However, supporters of the move argue that legitimate, licensed platforms like this are a necessary response to the widespread risk of unauthorized voice cloning.
And if you’re watching where licensed AI voices meet rising deepfake risk, check out our article on AI Impersonation Scams — a cautionary look at YouTube-bound clones, why verified statements matter, and how fast trust can erode when anyone can “sound” like someone else.