SAG-AFTRA will resume negotiations to protect video game players from unethical AI

After an actors’ strike that lasted nearly four months, SAG-AFTRA will resume negotiations with major game companies and advocate for protection from unethical AI for video game actors. The union made the announcement in a brief statement on its website and said it would have no further comment until negotiations resume.

“SAG-AFTRA and the convenience bargaining group with which the union is negotiating its interactive media agreement will resume negotiations on Wednesday, October 23,” the statement said. “The Convenience Negotiating Group includes Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc. and WB Games Inc. ”

“No further comment is available from either party at this time.”

SAG-AFTRA authorized a strike in late July 2024 after the group representing major game studios refused to extend protections to all actors working with the union. SAG-AFTRA wanted all actors to receive fair compensation when studios used AI to recreate their voices or bodies, and insisted that publishers inform actors if they wanted to use those likenesses.

It’s unclear which players the bargaining group representing game studios refused to cover, although the disagreement included a lack of “clear and enforceable language” that the union believed would have allowed studios to commit to their commitments to withdraw from gaming actors. The strike caused actors who worked on SAG-AFTRA projects or had ties to studios working under agreements with the union to stop working or stop working, with some exceptions, including GTA 6 actors to apply. If you are a Genshin Impact fan and noticed that the voice line count in Genshin Impact 5.1 was a little lower than usual, the strike is the reason behind it.

Whether this new round of negotiations will end the strike remains to be seen, although SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher previously said the union would not stop until it ensures the protection of all its members

“We will not agree to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members,” said Drescher. “Enough is enough.”