Stephen Fry Gets Candid About AI: Intrigued but Wary

AI’s Stage Debut Gets Mixed Reviews

British actor, author, and cultural critic Stephen Fry is venturing into the AI debate with a nuanced take that’s as sophisticated as his performances. Speaking at the CogX Festival in London, Fry expressed a deep fascination with artificial intelligence, especially in how it intersects with creativity, storytelling, and voice technologies. However, he also voiced serious concerns, particularly around the use of AI-generated deepfakes and cloned voices — including his own — which were allegedly used without his consent. His perspective adds a thoughtful layer to the ongoing conversation around how AI is transforming both art and ethics.

A Double-Edged Sword for Storytelling

Fry acknowledged the potential of AI as a transformative tool for education and entertainment, envisioning dynamic learning platforms and storytelling experiences enriched by intelligent systems. Still, he warned that the same tools can be dangerously misused, citing examples where his voice was digitally replicated for unauthorized narrations of audiobooks. “Welcome to the new future,” he said with cautious irony, underlining a need for urgent regulation around AI-generated content. Fry’s commentary strikes a balance between enthusiasm for progress and a clear-eyed assessment of its darker side.