Set to begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Hollywood's video game performers are gearing up for a strike over concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence, as negotiations for a new contract have failed to meet their expectations for protections in this rapidly evolving field. With AI's potential to replace human labor, these performers are taking a stand. According to AP News, their members voted overwhelmingly to authorize the strike should the bargaining table not yield the expected results.
SAG-AFTRA Members Who Work on Video Games Go on Strike
— SAG-AFTRA NEWS (@sagaftranews) July 25, 2024
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Representing 160,000 actors, SAG-AFTRA's key issue lies in how game makers might use AI to potentially displace actors. Concerns regarding AI training to replicate actors' voices or creating digital replicas of their likenesses without consent have been at the forefront, as reported by NBC News.
The union has been negotiating with major game developers including divisions of Activision, Warner Bros., and Walt Disney Co., over a new interactive media agreement, as per AP News.
The global video game industry, generating well over $100 billion annually, seems to be at a pivotal moment where the contributions of those who design and enliven these games are calling for fair treatment. “We have already found common ground on 24 out of 25 proposals, including historic wage increases and additional safety provisions,” said a spokesperson for the video game producers in an email statement to NBC News.
