Whoopi Goldberg Says AI Actors Miss the Human Heartbeat
Goldberg’s warning on AI performers
Whoopi Goldberg used her View platform to criticize the rise of AI generated performers, calling out the so called actress Tilly Norwood and warning that audiences will be unable to form a genuine connection with characters stitched together from algorithms rather than lived experience. Her comments, noted by Entertainment Weekly, landed amid escalating tensions in the entertainment industry over digital likenesses and compensation.
Why performers are pushing back
Goldberg emphasized more than just the uncanny valley effect. She argued that AI constructs are often a collage of mannerisms borrowed from thousands of actors, creating an uneven and unfair competition for human performers. That sentiment echoes broader concerns from artists who are already fighting over streaming pay and rights to their digital likenesses.
Examples across industries
The backlash is not limited to Hollywood. In India, legendary singer Asha Bhosle obtained a court order preventing AI platforms from using her voice and persona without consent, demonstrating that musicians are also asserting control over how their identities are used. Gamers and fans have also reacted when AI generated voices appeared in remastered titles like Tomb Raider, prompting studios to remove those lines and apologize. Meanwhile, platforms such as Spotify have updated policies to curb AI cloned vocals in user uploads.
What this debate means
These incidents suggest a growing consensus across film, music, and gaming that AI impersonation is more than a technical novelty. It raises ethical questions about consent, credit, and the nature of artistic expression. Goldberg’s point is that much of what makes performances compelling are the imperfections, improvisations, and lived experiences that inform them. An AI can mimic style and polish, but it cannot replicate the messy human history behind choices an actor makes.
A core question for audiences and creators
The conversation may ultimately come down to audience expectations. Can viewers accept performances that are flawless but lack the idiosyncratic humanity audiences connect with? Or will industries regulate and protect human performers and their voices to preserve that connection? For now, the debate is intensifying as more sectors draw clear boundaries around identity and consent in the age of synthetic media.