Gaming
Video game actors to strike against AI usage
This comes after The Screen Actors Guild failed to come to an agreement over the use of artificial intelligence in the industry.
Video-game voice actors are set to commence a strike at 12:01 a.m. on Friday following a failure to reach an agreement regarding the utilization of artificial intelligence within the industry.
The Screen Actors Guild, representing the workers, has engaged in negotiations for 18 months with various video-game studios, including Microsoft Corp.’s Activision Productions Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Disney Character Voices Inc., and Warner Brothers Games Inc.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher stated, “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members.”
According to Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the game companies, the studios and workers have reached consensus on 24 out of 25 proposals, including “historic” wage increases and additional safety provisions.
The studios have expressed their commitment to obtaining actors’ consent when using their voices in AI-involved projects and ensuring fair compensation for such work.
“We are disappointed the union has chosen to walk away when we are so close to a deal, and we remain prepared to resume negotiations,” Cooling conveyed in an emailed statement.
The negotiation of artificial intelligence usage has been a contentious subject across the media industry.
Notably, a SAG-AFTRA strike in the previous year led to the shutdown of Hollywood production until major film and TV studios agreed to a new contract incorporating AI-related protections for actors.
The union reported that approximately 2,600 individuals worked under the guild’s interactive media contract as of September.
