- Actor Tom Hanks described the prospect of artificial intelligence recreating his voice for future Toy Story sequels without his active participation as "a scary thought," a sentiment echoed by co-star Tim Allen.
- Hanks, who reprises his role as Woody in Toy Story 5, believes that while the film had a successful opening, any future instalments must offer creative justification and fresh themes rather than simply capitalising on the title.
- He expressed a deeper concern that audiences might eventually cease to care whether what they are watching is an authentic human performance or an AI-generated creation, potentially eroding the contract between filmmakers and viewers.
- Hanks has previously warned about AI's potential to extend actors' careers indefinitely, referencing his work on The Polar Express and noting that his likeness was used without permission in an AI-generated dental plan advertisement in 2023.
- Despite his reservations, Hanks also utilised AI-powered de-ageing tools for his role alongside Robin Wright in the 2024 film Here, praising the technology for its efficiency in post-production.
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