Hollywood video game actors are trying to avoid a strike, but negotiations have stalled over artificial intelligence (AI). For more than a year and a half, the Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Entertainers (SAG-AFTRA) has been negotiating with video game companies over wage increases and workplace safety.
However, negotiations have stalled over a lack of agreement on how AI should be used in the contract.
The SAG-AFTRA building, home to the American labor union that represents actors, singers and other performers in film and television, is photographed on July 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images)
Negotiations between Hollywood video game actors and gaming companies stalled over AI concerns
SAG-AFTRA has been in talks with video game companies for more than 18 months over contract renewal, focusing on wages and workplace safety, but the Associated Press reported that talks have stalled, largely due to disagreements over safeguards regarding the use of AI.
SAG-AFTRA Executive Director Duncan Crabtree Ireland said AI protections remain the biggest stumbling block to an agreement, noting that ensuring equal safeguards for all member states amid advances in AI has been a long-running negotiating issue.
In certain scenarios, AI voices are often used covertly in post-production to enhance recordings or change the age of characters at different stages of their digital existence. Union leaders worry that such practices could lead to human performers being replaced without notice or re-engagement.
“The union has left the door open to strike action as a last resort in negotiations. We would like to avoid work stoppages, but we are prepared to take decisive action to ensure fair treatment for our members. Anyone who underestimates the union's readiness to strike would be wrong,” Crabtree Ireland stressed.
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Strikes amid AI uncertainty
In September, SAG-AFTRA members voted to authorize union leaders to strike against video game companies. Concerns about the potential impact of AI on job security were a major driver of the union's four-month walkout last year.
Scott Lambright, an actor with experience voicing game creatures and non-player characters, expressed concern that AI could reduce job opportunities and the artistic quality of voice performances.
Lambright said emotional acting could become superficial when AI is involved, and that AI could deny actors the opportunity to land small background roles such as NPCs, denying them the chance to hone their acting before landing more prominent roles.
AI-related concerns were not addressed in the previous interactive contract, signed in 2017. As the union stated, the contract included more than 2,500 performers, including voiceover artists, motion capture actors, stunt performers, singers, dancers, puppeteers and background actors.
SAG-AFTRA noted that while the bargaining group representing major video game studios has been willing to add protections for voice actors, it has been reluctant to extend them to other performers, such as stuntmen and motion-capture artists.
Video game companies included in the interactive agreement include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc. and WB Games Inc.
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