U.S. video game actors strike over AI threats
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Video game voice actors and motion-capture performers initiated their first picket line in front of Warner Bros. Games on Thursday, protesting the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on their professions.
The strike, which began last week, centers on unsuccessful labor contract negotiations related to AI protections.
Leeanna Albanese, voice actor for "Persona 5 Tactica" and strike captain, expressed concerns over the unauthorized use of their voices in AI training models. "The models that they're using have been trained on our voices without our consent at all, with no compensation," she told Reuters.
This strike is the latest in a series of Hollywood labor actions, following last year's strikes by union writers and actors, where AI was also a major issue. British actor Jeff Leach, known for his role in "Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare & Warzone," emphasized the importance of the human element in interactive media, stating that the replacement by AI is noticeable to consumers.
Negotiations have been ongoing for months with major video game companies, including Activision Productions, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Take-Two Interactive, Disney Character Voices, and Warner Bros Discovery's WB Games.
Despite the strike, analysts believe that major publishers like Electronic Arts and Take-Two may avoid significant impact due to their in-house studios and the extended development cycles of their games.
The strike also calls attention to the broader issue of AI risks in Hollywood, advocating for national legislation to protect against the misuse of AI.
Albanese highlighted the importance of the NO FAKES Act, a bipartisan bill that aims to make it illegal to create AI replicas of individuals' likenesses and voices without permission. The bill has garnered support from the SAG-AFTRA performers union, the Motion Picture Association, The Recording Academy, and Disney.
Prominent figures, including Grammy-winning artist Taylor Swift and Vice President Kamala Harris, have voiced concerns over deep fakes and the urgent need for policy measures.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director and chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, stressed the necessity of nationwide protections against AI abuse. "Everybody in this country needs protection from the abusive use of AI," he stated at the picket line.
