Video game voice actors on strike against the use of artificial intelligence

Performers who lend their vocal talents to video game have voted to go on strike after the breakdown of talks with studios about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in productions.

Its about second unemployment in the last year de la Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), que In November last year a historic strike ended of 118 days for film, television and streaming contracts.

Last year’s action, joined the strike of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), too questioned the use of AI in the film and television industries. Now, the question of AI se has become the central focus of a new disagreement within a different division of the SAG-AFTRA union.

SAG-AFTRA represents the more than 2,500 video game performers who perform work ranging from voice-over and motion capture to stunt performers and singers.

Two years of negotiations

The strike, which began on Friday, comes after almost two years of negotiations with video game giants, including divisions of Activision, Warner Bros y Walt Disneyabout a new interactive media agreement.

SAG-AFTRA negotiators say progress has been made in terms of salaries and job security in the video game agreementbut that the two sides remain divided over the regulation of generative AI.

A spokesperson for video game producers, Audrey Coolingsaid the studies offered protections for AI, but the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee said the studies’ definition of what constitutes an “interpreter” is key to understanding the issue Who would it be protected from?

“The industry has told us bluntly that it does not necessarily consider everyone who performs moving performances are performers covered by the collective agreement”said Ray Rodriguez, Chief of Contracts for SAG-AFTRA, at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

Without protective barriers, gaming companies They could train AI to replicate an actor’s voice, or creating a digital replica of your image without consent or fair compensation, the union said.

“We went on strike as a last resort. We have given this process absolutely all the time we responsibly can.“Rodríguez told reporters. “We have exhausted all other possibilities, and that is why we are doing it now.”

The global video game industry generates more than 100 billion dollars annually (92 billion euros) in profits, according to the gaming market forecaster Newzoo. The people who design and bring those games to life are the driving force behind that success, says SAG-AFTRA.

Last year, members voted overwhelmingly in favor of giving management the authority to go on strike. Concern about the way film studios will use AI helped fuel cinema strikes and union television last year, which lasted four months.

The last interactive contract, which expired in November 2022, did not provide protections around AIbut secured a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists after an 11-month strike.

That strike was first major job action of SAG-AFTRA following the merger of Hollywood’s two largest actors unions in 2012.