Own Yourself: Surviving the Era of AI Replicas

Matthew McConaughey's AI Warning: How to Protect Your Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Own yourself. That is the advice Matthew McConaughey recently gave to actors navigating the incoming wave of artificial intelligence. But in 2026, it is not just actors who need to worry about AI replicas, it is the founders and leaders of growing businesses, too. In this episode of Letters of Intent, Pankaj Raval and Sahil Chaudry break down the rapidly shifting legal landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in the era of AI. They explore whether you can actually trademark a distinctive voice, how state Right of Publicity laws provide vital protections, and the specific red flags to look for in AI licensing contracts (hint: never sign anything in perpetuity). Finally, Pankaj and Sahil discuss the controversial trend of Automated CEOs and why true leadership, context, and agency can never be replicated by a chatbot. In this episode, you will learn: Trademarking a Voice: While difficult, a voice can be protected as a trademark if it acts as a unique source identifier (distinctive) and is actively used to sell goods or services (used in commerce). Right of Publicity is Your Best Friend: If copyright and trademark claims fall short, the Right of Publicity, especially strong in states like California, protects individuals from having their likeness commercially exploited without consent. Contract Red Flags: If a company wants to train an AI on your likeness, you must control the usage rights. Ensure your license terminates when the contract ends, restrict what industries your avatar can promote, and beware of hidden exclusivity clauses. The Automated CEO Problem: Cloning an executive's voice and mannerisms might save time, but it destroys trust. Employees follow human leaders for their life context, intuition, and agency, things an AI cannot duplicate. ► Listen to Letters of Intent's other episodes: bit.ly/LOIPodcast ► Visit Carbon Law Group's Website: carbonlg.com Connect with Us: ► Connect with Pankaj: [  / pankaj-raval  ](  / pankaj-raval  ) ► Connect with Sahil: [  / sahil-chaudry-6047305  ](  / sahil-chaudry-6047305  ) ► Schedule A Call With Us: carbonlg.com #CarbonLawGroup #NIL #AIReplicas #IntellectualProperty #RightOfPublicity Carbon Law Group, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County