The Simpsons Voice Actor Has Penned His Fears That AI Will Replace His Work And Recreate More Than 100 Characters

Hank Azaria, best known for voicing countless characters on The Simpsons over its nearly 36-year run, has expressed deep concern about how AI may one day replicate not only his voice but the entire emotional range he brings to each role. In an op-ed published by The New York Times, Azaria openly worries that the artificial reproduction of sound—what he calls “stealing my likeness or sound”—threatens voice actors who have devoted years to perfecting their craft. He points out that voicing characters such as Moe the Bartender, Chief Wiggum, and Comic Book Guy requires far more than just mimicking a pitch or tone: it relies on nuanced physicality, genuine tears, and complete emotional immersion to truly bring life to a fictional persona.

Azaria’s statement arrives amid an ongoing surge in AI technology, where advanced models have demonstrated the capacity to emulate celebrity voices and even generate realistic videos of public figures. While some see this technology as an inevitable progression, Azaria underscores the crucial human element—arguing that authenticity in voice acting stems from intangible human emotions rather than purely mechanical data. The actor also notes that major industry players, including Meta, are exploring deals with high-profile talents to secure rights to use their “likenesses” for AI assistants, a fact that intensifies Azaria’s concerns.

Bringing Characters to Life Beyond the Microphone

Azaria specifically highlights the role of Moe the Bartender—a mainstay across The Simpsons’ decades-long history. Because Moe’s character exhibits a wide emotional spectrum, Azaria believes it would take a monumental effort for AI to convincingly replicate that performance. Indeed, voice acting often requires more than simply speaking lines: actors engage in real-time movements, produce authentic tears, and channel genuine sentiment, making it a holistic physical and psychological endeavor.

Looming Concerns for the Future

With the entertainment sector pouring billions into research and development, Azaria’s fears could materialize sooner than anticipated. Some artists might opt into licensing deals to let AI utilize their voices, but Azaria views such replication as ethically problematic, especially when it happens without adequate acknowledgment or compensation. As artificial intelligence keeps advancing, the delicate balance between innovation and respecting creative professionals’ rights hangs in the balance.

Do you think AI-generated voices can ever capture the real emotion and depth of a trained voice actor like Hank Azaria, or do you see it primarily as an ethical line that shouldn’t be crossed? Share your perspective below.