According to Cointelegraph: The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has finalized a pioneering agreement with Replica Studios, an AI voice tech company. The agreement, disclosed on Jan 9, enables Replica to ethically create and license digital voice replicas of the actors protected by the SAG-AFTRA for use in video games.
One of the significant implications of this deal is its potential to reshape the role of AI in AAA video games and other interactive media projects. It not only sets minimum terms and conditions for usage but also grants performers the right to consent, negotiate with the AI company, and opt out of the continued use of their voices in new projects.
This initiative, supporting fully informed consent and fair compensation for performers, boosts the ethical foundation of AI usage in the entertainment industry. However, not all SAG-AFTRA members and the broader acting community are pleased with this development. Some claim that actors should have the opportunity to act on record rather than just provide a sample of their voice, while others highlighted the lack of voting process and comprehensive details in the SAG-AFTRA press release.
This agreement follows a series of significant deals pertaining to AI in the entertainment industry, including the November 2023 guideline agreement with major film studios on the creation, use, and alteration of "digital replicas" of performers. Despite the mixed reaction to such developments, the trend indicates a steadily evolving landscape where AI and entertainment continue to intersect.
