Video game actors represented by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have voted to go on strike starting Friday, after a breakdown in negotiations with video game studios over protections from artificial intelligence.
The rise of generative AI, and its potential to replace humans, was one of the most critical sticking points for actors and writers during last year’s Hollywood strikes. But while actors and screenwriters in the movie industry were ultimately able to negotiate a deal with film studios over AI, video game performers have failed to do so.
According to SAG-AFTRA, the negotiations between video game actors and major game developers broke down after more than a year-and-a-half of discussions.
SAG-AFTRA is a union that represents 160,000 actors, and it has been negotiating with a group of video game companies that includes Activision Productions Studios LLC, Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices International Inc., Electronic Arts Inc., Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive Inc., VoiceWorks Productions LLC and Warner Bros Games.
The union said in a statement to media that while agreements have been reached on many of the most relevant issues for its members, the video games studios have refused to “plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their AI language.”
A spokesperson for the video game producers said they were disappointed to see that the “union has chosen to walk away when we are so close to a deal”. He added that the group is prepared to resume negotiations at any moment.
“We have already found common ground on 24 out of 25 proposals, including historic wage increases and additional safety provisions,” the spokesperson added. “Our offer is directly responsive to SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and extends meaningful AI protections that include requiring consent and fair compensation to all performers working under the IMA.”
SAG-AFTRA voice actors and performance capture artists previously went on strike in October 2016 and didn’t return to work for more than 11 months. Their last interactive contract with video games developers expired in November 2022 and did not include any protections around AI.
“Frankly, it’s stunning that these video game studios haven’t learned anything from the lessons of last year — that our members can and will stand up and demand fair and equitable treatment with respect to A.I., and the public supports us in that,” SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement.
Actors play a crucial role in the video games development industry, lending their voices to game characters and doing full performances in motion capture. Some even lend their likeness to characters that are replicated in the digital world.
SAG-AFTRA members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in September, if the negotiations on a new labor contract broke down.
It was believed that the union was making progress in its talks. In January, it announced it had struck a deal with the AI company Replica Studios Inc. to establish protections regarding the licensing of digitally-replicated voices.
Actors’ fears over AI voice replication are justified and they’re shared by others, such as music artists. AI voice technology has become widespread in the social media domain, where AI-generated voiceovers are often used with memes. Some actors, such as Roger Clark, who provides the voice for Red Dead Redemption 2’s protagonist character Arthur Morgan, have publicly criticized fans for using AI to replicate their voices for use with content shared on social media.
According to The Associated Press, union leaders insist they aren’t completely “anti-AI”, but they are concerned about the unchecked use of the technology. Their biggest fear is that game developers will use their voices and physical likenesses to train AI models that will eventually replace them altogether.
SAG-AFTRA’s chief contracts officer Ray Rodriguez told reporters on a Zoom call that the strike was a “last resort” for the union’s members.
“In this negotiation we have not received everything we received in the replica deal, and if we had, we would not be announcing a strike,” he said.
“We’re left with practically no protection for our future,” added Zeke Alton, a video game performer who was on the negotiating team.
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