ElevenLabs strike deals with celebs to create AI audio

AI voice startup ElevenLabs announced this week that it has signed actors Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey to officially license their voices for AI-generated content — marking another milestone in Hollywood’s evolving relationship with artificial intelligence.

The deal enables ElevenLabs to replicate the actors’ voices using its advanced voice cloning technology, creating authentic-sounding digital versions of the stars for new media formats.

McConaughey, who is also an investor in ElevenLabs, will use his AI-generated voice to translate his newsletter into Spanish audio.

Meanwhile, Caine’s digitally licensed voice will be featured in ElevenLabs’ upcoming AI voice marketplace, where brands can purchase rights to use authorised celebrity voices for content and campaigns.

Hollywood’s Cautious Embrace of AI

The agreement signals a notable shift in the entertainment industry, which just two years ago saw significant strikes over the use of AI likenesses and voices in film and television.

Since then, a growing number of performers have begun cautiously exploring AI as a controlled extension of their brand.

Meta took a similar step last year, unveiling voice assistants that sound like Kristen Bell and Judi Dench for its Meta AI platform.

“We’re focused on ensuring artists are compensated and protected while allowing brands to create at scale,” ElevenLabs said in a statement.

A Marketplace for Celebrity AI Voices

ElevenLabs also announced a new voice marketplace, where companies can license verified AI-generated voices of prominent figures — including Liza Minnelli and Dr Maya Angelou — for use in advertisements, audiobooks, and branded media.

The move aims to create a transparent ecosystem where voice talent is both consensually licensed and financially compensated, establishing a standard for ethical AI voice usage.

Founded in 2022, ElevenLabs has quickly grown into one of the world’s leading AI voice startups, backed by a16z (Andreessen Horowitz) and ICONIQ Capital. The company was recently valued at over $1 billion, cementing its status as an AI unicorn.