LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Video game performers voted to strike on Thursday, bringing parts of the entertainment industry back into strike action after talks on new contracts with major game studios collapsed over protections for artificial intelligence.
“I’ve been in over 300 games and played probably over 500 characters, so I’m very involved in the industry,” said JB Blanc, one of the thousands of video game actors taking part in the strike. “I think this is the biggest existential threat we’ve faced as actors.”
The Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Entertainers (SAG-AFTRA) has been negotiating with video game developers (see below) for nearly two years but has yet to reach an agreement.
A major point of contention is protecting performers from the use of AI: SAG-AFTRA negotiators say that while video game contracts include agreements on wages and job security, studios won’t agree to regulate generative AI.
Without guardrails, game companies could train AI to imitate actors’ voices or create digital replicas of their likenesses without their consent or fair compensation, the union said.
Audrey Couling, a spokesperson for the video game production company that is a party to the interactive media deal, released the following statement:
“We are disappointed that the union chose to withdraw when we were so close to an agreement, and we stand ready to resume negotiations. We have already found common ground on 24 of our 25 proposals, including historic wage increases and additional safety provisions. Our proposal directly responds to SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and expands meaningful AI protections, including requiring consent and fair compensation for all performers working under the IMA. These terms are among the strongest in the entertainment industry.”
Asked about the possibility of a strike preventing him from working, Blanc, who has been an actor for decades, said no one is really prepared for it.
“Nobody is preparing for an attack when the duration is unknown, but the determination is certainly there,” he said. “This is about our future. This is not just a threat to attackers, it’s a threat to everyone. We know that automation and AI are big threats.”
Variety’s Clayton Davis explains that concerns about AI also sparked a TV and film strike that lasted 118 days.
“We’ve heard concerns that they could scan your body, use you again without your consent, and pay a one-day fee to have your likeness used for the rest of your life,” he said.
The strike was only on its first day, but the performers knew the risks and were prepared to fight for a long time if necessary.
“This could be the last time,” Blanc said. “We’re not going to budge on this. We’re going to remain resolute. And regardless of how long it lasts, we’re very resourceful people. We don’t let actors scare us. We’re used to being starving artists. We’ve been that way most of our lives.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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