AI audio unicorn ElevenLabs announced this week that it has reached voice cloning agreements with Oscar-winning actors Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine, and will include the two actors' AI voice tones in the newly launched "Iconic Voice Marketplace," allowing brands and creators to legally use them after obtaining proper authorization. The marketplace currently offers AI voices of more than 25 historical and current celebrities, including Liza Minnelli, Dr. Maya Angelou, and John Wayne, aiming to provide a traceable copyright channel for the use of AI audio.

McConaughey has been an investor in ElevenLabs since 2022. He will use his own AI voice to produce a Spanish audio version of his English newsletter "Lyrics of Livin’" to expand his audience. Caine, on the other hand, has authorized the use of his iconic London accent for ElevenReader readings and third-party commercial projects. In a statement, he said, "This is not about replacing a voice, but amplifying it."

ElevenLabs emphasized that all voice tones listed on the platform must be authorized by the individual or their estate manager, in response to Hollywood's concerns about AI "deepfakes" and rights protection. The company did not disclose the licensing fees or revenue-sharing ratios involved in this collaboration, but mentioned that it plans to continue expanding the "Iconic Voice" list and intends to deliver celebrity voice content to scenarios such as advertising, podcasts, and audiobooks.