Nearly 1,000 Hollywood Professionals Sign Open Letter Against AI Use for Child Actors’ Voices

Nearly 1,000 actors, talent agents, parents, and entertainment professionals are raising their voices against the inclusion of artificial intelligence in contracts for child performers.

The Agents for Young Performers Association (AYPA) has organized an open letter this week urging studios to cease contract terms that permit the copying, training, or reuse of children’s voices through AI technology. The letter alleges that a major studio behind a global children’s franchise has requested young voice actors to consent to the AI use of their voices for future commercial projects.

According to the letter, the studio has adopted a rigid stance when agents raise objections to these clauses, reportedly responding with a “take it or leave it” attitude. While the group did not disclose the studio’s name, this situation follows reports that Hasbro has been exploring AI-related applications linked to the ‘Peppa Pig’ franchise.

The AYPA emphasized that this issue transcends a single company or show. In a statement shared with Variety, the organization highlighted that the letter addresses a growing concern within the entertainment industry, where companies are incorporating AI language into contracts for young performers.

“There should be no question of using child actors in any form of AI, whether film, recorded media or images,” the AYPA board stated to Variety.

The letter contends that children cannot fully grasp the long-term implications of granting companies permission to recreate their voices. The signatories argue that parents or guardians should not have the authority to approve unlimited AI rights on behalf of a child.

“Children cannot provide fully informed legal consent and a parent or guardian’s approval should never be used as a blanket licence to capture, clone, train, or reuse a child’s voice indefinitely,” the letter asserted.

The group also cautioned that a child performer’s voice could become a permanent business asset before they are mature enough to make that decision themselves.

“No child should have their future professional identity shaped by an AI model created before they were old enough to understand its consequences,” the letter added.

In response to the controversy following Variety’s report on the open letter, Hasbro stated that protecting young performers is a core part of its values and that the company is committed to examining AI responsibly as the technology evolves.

A Hasbro spokesperson informed Deadline that “the protection of child performers is core to who Hasbro is” and reiterated the company’s dedication to managing AI in a responsible and transparent manner.

This discussion has gained heightened attention due to ‘Peppa Pig’s’ global popularity. The animated character, which made its debut in 2004, has become one of the most recognizable children’s brands worldwide, expanding into movies, merchandise, music, and theme park attractions.

An AI version of ‘Peppa Pig’ has already been publicly demonstrated. During an Axios AI+NY event, representatives from Hasbro AI Studio and ElevenLabs showcased an AI rendition of the character while discussing AI voice technology. Hasbro stated that the demonstration utilized an authorized voice created with proper permissions and was part of its responsible AI initiatives.

However, questions linger regarding how AI technology will impact young voice actors in the future. The AYPA’s letter argues that children should not have their voices digitally recreated or commercially utilized without clear protections.

As AI continues to gain traction in entertainment, the debate over performer rights, consent, and voice ownership is expected to intensify. For many in the industry, the primary concern is ensuring that young actors are safeguarded before new technology advances faster than the regulations governing it.

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