A groundbreaking agreement between SAG-AFTRA and Replica Studios is set to revolutionize AI voice usage in video games. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), representing 150,000 industry professionals, revealed the deal with Replica Studios, an AI voice technology company, on Jan. 9.
Empowering Fair and Ethical Use
The deal grants Replica the ability to produce and license digital versions of SAG-AFTRA-protected actors under “fair and ethical” conditions. These licensed voices will be employed in AAA video games and various interactive media projects throughout the production cycle.
Rights and Consent for Performers
The agreement not only defines minimum terms but also ensures performers’ rights to consent and negotiate with Replica Studios. Actors maintain the authority to opt out of future uses of their voices in subsequent projects.
Positive Achievements, Mixed Reactions
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s National Executive Director, sees this agreement as a milestone in achieving informed consent and fair compensation for members’ voices and performances. However, certain members and the broader actors’ community are expressing discontent.
Critiques and Concerns
Some actors express preference for direct involvement in recordings rather than merely providing voice samples. Concerns also center around the perceived lack of detail in the union’s press release and a lack of involvement in the deal confirmation process.
Prior Agreements and Diverse Reactions
This isn’t SAG-AFTRA’s first AI-related deal. A prior agreement with film studios regarding digital replicas garnered mixed reactions, despite an 86% confirmation vote within the union. Similarly, the Writer’s Guild of America struck a deal in September, limiting studios’ ability to enforce AI usage on screenwriters.
Discover the groundbreaking deal between SAG-AFTRA and Replica Studios, shaping AI voice use in gaming and media.
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