SAG-AFTRA is striking against video game publishers to guard actors from being exploited with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
After a yr and a half of negotiations a deal has not been reached. The union desires to be sure that artificial intelligence is just not used as a tactic to benefit from actors in major games. SAG-AFTRA noted of their statement, “The convenience bargaining group with whom SAG-AFTRA is negotiating includes Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., Voice Works Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc.”
They stated on their website, “SAG-AFTRA members who perform in video games are occurring strike against all video game firms signed to the Interactive Media Agreement, effective 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 26 [called by Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator].”
Duncan revealed, “The video game industry generates billions of dollars in profit annually. The driving force behind that success is the creative individuals who design and create those games. That features the SAG-AFTRA members who bring memorable and beloved game characters to life, and so they deserve and demand the identical fundamental protections as performers in film, television, streaming, and music: fair compensation and the correct of informed consent for the A.I. use of their faces, voices, and bodies.”
In an Instagram post shared on Thursday, July 25, followers of the community shared their opinions on the matter. “That is getting out of hand with the concept of AI replacing actors and VO actors… AI cannot duplicate the fragility of the human condition in a way a human can,” one user commented.
This comes shortly after the union had been on strike for 118 days against the Alliance Motion Picture and Television Producers. The movement got here to an end in November 2023 when an answer was reached: “We have now arrived at a contract that may enable SAG-AFTRA members from every category to construct sustainable careers…Many 1000’s of performers now and into the longer term will profit from this work.”
