On February 16, 2026, legendary voice actress Nancy Cartwright made headlines by taking a firm stand against the use of artificial intelligence to replicate her iconic role as Bart Simpson. Speaking to People magazine ahead of the show’s landmark 800th episode, the 68-year-old star insisted that a computer can never replace the “heart and passion” a human actor brings to a character. Cartwright, who has voiced the ten-year-old underachiever for nearly 36 years, stated that if she ever retires, she would prefer a human successor over a digital clone.
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Cartwright also shared a surprising piece of series history, revealing she originally intended to audition for the role of Lisa Simpson. However, after seeing a drawing of Bart and his description as a “proud underachiever,” she pivoted at the last minute, a decision that defined her career. Her co-star Hank Azaria, the voice of Moe and Chief Wiggum, echoed her concerns, telling the New York Times that while AI could technically mimic his sounds, it would lack the “humanness” and physical movement that inform his performances.
Bart Simpson actress Nancy Cartwright shares her thoughts on AI-generated voice acting:
“I think I would choose a successor. (…) AI has no heart and I think that’s a missing ingredient. [AI] might sound pretty close to Nancy Cartwright, but I got passion. We’re spiritual… pic.twitter.com/l20aRpec1R
— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 16, 2026
Despite the AI debate, the creative team at Fox and Disney+ shows no signs of slowing down. With a Simpsons Movie 2 announced for 2027 and a renewal through Season 40, the show remains a cultural anchor, relying, for now, strictly on its original human cast.
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