Video game unionization | The Independent

WWith his black beanie and expressive facial muscles, “Bloom” bears a strong resemblance to other modern video game characters, right down to his emotional backstory.

“Yes, I lost a lot,” Bloom said when asked what the resistance struggle had cost him. “My son, my friends, my home. But everything I lose only fuels my determination to keep going.”

What was unusual was that Bloom's words and the voice that spoke them were generated on the fly by artificial intelligence in response to the player's verbal questions, based on a character profile drawn by a human author.

It was unveiled last month Bloom and friends from French game company Ubisoft – albeit flashy. Comically bland at times – These were part of a technology demo aimed at showing how future video games can use generative AI to spontaneously respond to what players say and do.

Around the world, game companies such as Square Enix (the creator of the game) Final Fantasy series) and Chinese technology giant Tencent ( league of legends) are racing to jump on the AI ​​bandwagon.

But the company's hype has also reinvigorated another conversation that has been taking place. Rising in the video game industry In recent years, labor unions have been formed.

The trigger was The ongoing tsunami of layoffsGame developers are increasingly coming together to protect their jobs and improve working conditions, with a steady increase in studios forming unions since 2018.

Massive layoffs appear to be the main reason, but union leaders say fears of automation are only adding fuel to the fire.

“AI is a big concern for people working in the games industry, especially the more creative parts like concept artists, animators, and writers,” said Chrissy Felmes of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). independent person He said this in an interview at a game developer conference.

“These layoffs have really made people aware of the fact that they don't have consent over their working lives. Changes are being made unilaterally without consent, and they are We're looking for solutions.”

At last month's GDC in San Francisco, developers flocked to talks and panels about forming workplace unions, starting worker-owned cooperatives, or preparing for the future impact of AI.

On the front lines of this fight are voice actors and other performers represented by SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood's powerful labor union, which last year announced that after a 118-day strike, movie studios and TV studios to agree to new restrictions on AI. Fresh from this victory, the union is now trying to reach similar agreements with game studios, through another strike if necessary.

“We're not there yet, but we're very close,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union's national executive director. independent person. “We are talking about weeks, not months.

“The decision companies have to make is very simple: Either they treat all performers fairly and give them equal AI protections, or they don’t. And if they promise not to do that, If there is, there is no reason for us to wait.”

Game actors fight digital clones

In response to last year's Hollywood strike, strange video Content circulated on social media that appeared to show Crabtree Ireland criticizing the deal he had just helped negotiate.

In fact, this was AI-generated deepfakeapparently created to undermine the contract (Some actors believed it wasn't good enough). And it was a harbinger of what many stakeholders fear will happen if generative AI goes unregulated.

Proponents argue that AI has the potential to reduce the huge production costs of modern titles and expand the scope of projects that can be completed by small teams. Some even say that perennials may be possible (Controversial case) The fantasy of building a building “Holodeck” – In other words, a comprehensive virtual world that can seamlessly simulate all player requirements.

“It's not always about replacing; sometimes it's about creating something completely new,” said Saltwater Games' Russell Harding, who gave a talk at GDC titled “Using Generative AI to Create Unlimited Content.” said. “This allows us to do things we couldn’t do.”

But the performers are skeptical.in A recent poll by the National Voice Actors Association, 12% of respondents said they lost their job because of AI-generated voices. Only 10% of people said they consented to having their voice copied by an AI, and 6% said their voice was copied without their permission.

Modern generative AI is only possible when it is “trained” on vast amounts of human-generated data. some critics claim This is nothing more than obfuscated theft on a grand scale.Some game actors have their voices suppressed unofficial porn addon.

Crabtree-Ireland already requires performers to sign up to “blanket” rights to use AI to replicate their voices and movements without additional compensation, sometimes hidden in small print. or said they were asked to sign it as a condition of getting the job.

“They asked me to sign a clause that said, “I consent to the use of my image, voice, and likeness throughout the universe in perpetuity using any technology now known or hereafter invented.'' '' said Crabtree-Ireland. “That's no good.”

In response, the union is seeking to include curbs on AI in the next version of the Interactive Media Agreement, which was first struck in 1993 and currently covers around 140,000 people. Currently, Activision Blizzard ( call of duty and warcraft Franchise), Electronic Arts (FIFA, Mass Effect), Epic Games (fortnite).

SAG-AFTRA requires companies to obtain informed consent from performers before creating digital replicas of any kind, and requires them to have veto rights over future uses of those replicas. . The union also wants performers to earn extra pay each time a replica is used.

But progress was slow, and by September union members were approved the strike by an overwhelming majority If the negotiator deems it necessary. The big problem, Crabtree-Ireland argues, is that while the two companies have agreed on AI protections for voice acting, they haven't agreed on other types of performance, such as motion or facial capture.

“As a union, we are not going to leave anyone behind,” he said. “We have already given them significant additional time to address this issue at their request…I think there is a path to an agreement without a strike. But if we have to strike… We will.”

Spokespersons for the 10 companies declined to comment on specifics as negotiations are still ongoing. But the companies said in a statement: “We continue to negotiate in good faith and have made significant progress. We have reached tentative agreements on most of our proposals and are optimistic that we can reach an agreement soon.” “

“This is the worst thing ever.”

SAG-AFTRA disputes erupt in the following situations: Historic surge in trade union activity and pro-union sentimentboth inside and outside the gaming industry.

Starting in 2022, gaming workers will work with Sega of America, CD Projekt Red, Activision Blizzard, and Many other companies around the world. quality assurance personnel, treated for a long time It has been particularly active as a lesser adjunct to “real” developers.

The biggest factor is the unprecedented mass layoffs. Apparently this is due to poor management of the company. and the soaring costs of blockbuster games. This exacerbates long-standing complaints such as grueling “working hours,” poor job security, and endemic sexual harassment.

The atmosphere is so fraught that at one point last month, GDC attendees gathered in a park near the conference center to vent their frustrations. with organized shouts.

“This industry has always been volatile, but the moment we entered this world feels unprecedented,” said veteran voice actor, director, and SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Commissioner. said Sara Elmaleh, chairperson of the association.. “I think this is the worst I've ever seen in terms of layoffs, hopelessness, instability and lack of responsible management.”

Amid all this turmoil, actors aren't the only ones deeply concerned about how their bosses will implement new technology, Elmaleh says.

“I think a lot of companies think they can make money by firing a bunch of employees and replacing them with AI,” said one video game writer who asked to remain anonymous for fear of negative repercussions from his employer. Told. independent person. “When the bubble bursts, they're going to have a bad wake-up call, but a lot of people are going to suffer from it.”

Some gaming stakeholders, including some SAG-AFTRA members, reject the use of AI in content creation. When the union announced in January that it had signed a deal with an AI company called Replica Studios to allow performers to license digital portraits. Severely criticized by famous voice actors.

But Crabtree-Ireland is adamant that performers need to be willing to say “yes, and…” to the generative AI. “History shows that anyone trying to ban unions or ban technology is not a good way to fight,” he said during a GDC panel discussion. “Simply trying to ban it would be giving up the opportunity to have a say in how it should be implemented.”

IATSE's Mr. Fermes takes a similar position. “We're not going to get rid of it. Pandora is out of the box and we can't put it back together,” she said. “What we can do is secure our future.”

Either way, organizers believe there may only be a short period of time in which workers can force their terms on companies before AI can truly replace them. There is.

“Your power now is that they still need you,” Fermes said.