Nicolas Cage continues to express his concerns regarding the impact of artificial intelligence in Hollywood. During his speech at the 25th Newport Beach Film Festival on Sunday, prior to receiving the Icon Award at the Honors Brunch, Cage highlighted the importance of maintaining control over one's own image and performance as studios increasingly adopt AI technology. "There’s a new technology that I’ve only had to face recently after 42 years in the industry. However, this new generation of 10 young actors will certainly have to contend with it, and they’re referring to it as ‘EBDR. ’ This technology aims to take away your instrument. As film actors, we are the instruments; we don’t hide behind guitars or drums, " Cage stated, according to Deadline. EBDR stands for "employment-based digital replica, " a type of digital likeness that can be created under the terms established by the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA and the studios following last year’s dual strikes. WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? According to the contract rules, an "EBDR is generated in connection to your work on a film" and may involve scanning an actor’s body. Compensation is determined by how much the performer would have been paid for the in-person scenes in which the digital replica is utilized, with performers entitled to residuals from their digital likeness’s use in the final product. "The studios desire this capability so they can alter your appearance after you’ve finished filming — they can modify your face, voice, line deliveries, body language, and overall performance, " Cage cautioned. "This technology seeks to take your instrument. As film actors, we are the instruments. " — Nicolas Cage He went on to say, "If a studio approaches you to sign a contract that allows them to use EBDR on your performance, I urge you to consider what I term ‘MVMFMBMI’ — my voice, my face, my body, my imagination — my performance. Protect your instrument. " CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. The Oscar-winning actor has voiced his worries about this technology previously. In a July interview with The New Yorker, Cage mentioned needing to undergo "a scan" for an upcoming role, acknowledging that the idea made him feel anxious. "They’ll scan me and match my eye color, and I worry they might do whatever they wish with my likeness through digital AI. …I hope it doesn't resort to AI.

I’m genuinely frightened by it, and I’ve spoken out about it, " he reflected during the interview. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING?CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS. "And it raises the question: where will the essence of the artists wind up?Will it be swapped out or transformed?What will happen to the heartbeat of our work?" "What happens to my body and face after I’m gone?I don’t want anyone doing anything with it, " he added. During an interview with The Associated Press in December 2023, Cage also expressed concerns about his life rights and the potential for AI to exploit celebrities’ likenesses posthumously, describing such digital recreations as "inhumane. " WATCH: AI EXPERT ON HOW THE TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED TO MAKE AI DEEPFAKES EASIER. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP. "Right now, someone owns the rights to James Dean. They could cast him in a Vietnam film, which is what they’re trying to do. …To me, this is utterly inhumane. AI doesn’t come close to the concept of humanity. People will lose jobs, and I’m sure even he, if he could weigh in, wouldn’t approve of it, " Cage asserted.