(NEXSTAR) — Almost eight years after his passing, Stan Lee, the former creative director and iconic figure of Marvel Comics, is set to make a comeback in the entertainment industry through a new agreement that enables the use of his AI-generated image.
An AI audio company named ElevenLabs states that it has obtained the rights to Lee's image and voice, marking the newest addition to what the company refers to as its Iconic Marketplace. This collection, which ElevenLabs can offer for licensing to other businesses, already features representations of several actors, including Michael Caine, David Hasselhoff, and Judy Garland.Variety reports.
ElevenLabs is set to introduce its "Stan Lee Book Club of the Month," featuring Lee's voice narrating selected book titles, with users also having the option to choose his voice for other books, according toIGN. Users of ElevenLabs' technology can now (starting Wednesday) create Lee's appearance in comic book panel-style templates.
Stan always believed in connecting with his fans where they were: in the pages of a comic, at a convention, or through a brief on-screen appearance," said Chaz Rainey, a lawyer and board member of Stan Lee Universe, in a statement reported by Variety. "This collaboration is a way to keep that tradition alive. Fans have consistently mentioned that when they read his comics, they imagine the words spoken in Stan's voice, and now, thanks to ElevenLabs, we can bring that to life.
The announcement of the collaboration arrives at a fascinating moment in the AI landscape.
Although it appears that the term is on everyone's mind, new data and news updates suggest that public opinion is becoming more negative towards the technology. Recent polling byPew Researchshows that 50% of Americans are moreconcerned about AIthrilled about it. A recent Gallup poll indicates that only 18% of Americans aged 14 to 29 expressed optimism regarding AI, according toAxios.
Moreover, the effect of AI data centersThe impact on ordinary Americans' electricity bills and the environment is now being experienced. Recent polling from theUniversity of Houstondiscovered that although 85% of residents stated they use AI, 63% of those same individuals expressed they did not want aa data center located within a mile of their residence. The primary cause? Power expenses.
Meanwhile, new developments from companies such asNvidia, Uber, and Microsoftshow that technology companies are encountering significant disadvantages, specifically, they have discovered that massThe cost of using AI is higher than employing human workers.complete the task. As reported by several sources, includingMint, Microsoft reportedly reduced access to Claude AI for thousands of employees internally, following a six-month commitment to the technology.
Now, regarding the AI bubble in relation to Stan Lee's image, one only needs to look at the2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, where actors and writers demonstrated for almost four months demanding safeguards against studios utilizing AI to digitally recreate actors or replace/copy from writers. Thethe union's struggle for additional AI safeguards and restrictionsis continuing, as AI is still not widely favored by artists in Hollywood.
For the time being, it remains uncertain how this high-profile AI representation of such a cherished real-life individual will be received by Marvel fans. Early online reactions on X, in response to Discussing Film's post about the "AI Stan Lee," seemed predominantly negative, with many calling the initiative "corny" and even "weird." Some also criticized Lee's family and associates for permitting the use of his likeness. As explained byAARP, several individuals within Lee's immediate circle at the time of his passing have faced allegations from others regarding actions that might be considered as elder abuse.
One X user repliedEven in death, he continues to be taken advantage of.
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