Here’s what we know about the SAG-AFTRA Artificial Intelligence Voiceover Licensing Agreement

Updated January 10, 9:02 pm ET: Shortly after we published this article, SAG-AFTRA shared this Full text of agreement with Replica Studios and FAQ document and Summarize. Our original story follows.

During CES 2024, SAG-AFTRA announced an agreement with Replica Studios, an artificial intelligence voice technology company. The agreement will allow SAG-AFTRA members, specifically voice actors, to work with Replica to create digital replicas of their voices. These sounds can then be licensed for use in video games and other interactive media projects, protected by a SAG-AFTRA license.

In the announcement, SAG-AFTRA described the deal as “a way for professional voiceover artists to safely explore new employment opportunities for their digital voice reproductions through industry-leading protections tailored for artificial intelligence technology.” way.” However, when news of the deal reached the voice-over performer community at large, the reaction was less than positive, with performers either outright denouncing the deal or commenting on what the deal would mean for their career’s future health and survival. expressed concern.

“Love it when we pay our dues to a union that will hand our jobs over to artificial intelligence and then claim we all agree with it,” wrote voice actor Emi Lo. Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact: Star Trail, on X.

“I guess the first thing I want to say is that I think there are quite a few members who are concerned about this announcement,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director and chief negotiator for SAG-AFTRA. Very satisfied.” edge in an interview. “I think it’s wrong sometimes to hear a certain number of voices, even if they speak in a very concerned or excited tone, because they represent the entire membership that works on that contract or works in that area.”

Crabtree-Ireland added that SAG-AFTRA “will be releasing additional and more detailed information today” so that its members can better evaluate the deal. “We want all members to fully understand the terms of the contract and trust that our contract will protect them in their working lives,” he said.

The SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement is a union contract covering approximately 140,000 members and is signed by some of the video game industry’s largest publishers, including Activision Blizzard, Take-Two and Electronic Arts. Last year, union members voted in favor of strike authorization for performers covered by the agreement — in other words, your favorite video game voice actor could strike if negotiations don’t work out.

However, the Interactive Media agreement does not cover Replica Studios, and this new agreement was developed separately from ongoing negotiations.

“The company is not part of that negotiating group,” Crabtree-Ireland said. “this work [Replica Studios] What will be done – creating digital replicas of the sounds – will now be done entirely in accordance with our collective bargaining agreement. “

Basically, Replica will act as a third-party SAG-AFTRA approved AI voice provider, providing AI voice services to video game companies. If SAG-AFTRA members choose to license their voices, Replica’s agreement ensures that performers receive fair compensation, that their voice data will be protected from unauthorized use, and that sounds cannot be copied without the performer’s informed consent Used in projects.

Crabtree-Ireland said: “The terms in this agreement are no shorter than the terms our membership approved just a month ago, when we received an 80% ‘yes’ vote when approving the studio and streaming contracts.”

Crabtree-Ireland also said the union’s Interactive Media Agreements Committee, which oversees all matters related to video games, has reached the agreement and been working on it for more than a year. On X, as a result of Reporter Nathan Grayson shared a screenshot of his conversation with Sarah Elmaleh, chair of SAG-AFTRA’s Interactive Media Negotiations Unit, which provides more context to the deal.

“The performers will be [Replica] and [be] What they cover and the licenses issued to developers will require protection and compensation,” Elmaleh wrote. “Obviously, many developers want to work directly with the same technology themselves. There are clear and binding requirements for transparency, consent and compensation that Replica adheres to, and must be included in the basic agreement covering this work. That’s why we are firmly committed to waiting for a fair deal [Interactive Media Agreement.]”

Crabtree-Ireland said the deal should send a signal to video game companies currently in talks with SAG-AFTRA to reconsider their stance on artificial intelligence, which has been a sticking point in the negotiations.

“this [agreement] “This is a real signal to video game companies that companies that know what they are doing in the field of artificial intelligence are willing to make the kinds of commitments contained in this agreement,” he said.

Although the deal was struck under the auspices of the Interactive Media Bargaining Unit, some voice actors remain concerned that embracing artificial intelligence in the creative process will result in all but the most popular performers losing their jobs and having their art undermined. dilution.

“I wanted to act,” wrote Chris Hackney, who voices Lauru. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and rusty in Armored Core VI: Rubicon Fire, on X. “I don’t want to sell my likeness to someone to use and then pay me. When art is neither created nor performed, it defeats the purpose of art and performance.”