Why every single person should pay attention to the SAG-AFTRA video game performers strike
SAG-AFTRA union members are striking against all video game companies signed to the Interactive Media Agreement, as of Friday, July 26, 2024.
This strike does not include non-union performers (voiceover and motion capture) or video game companies not signed to the Agreement.
The video game companies (including divisions of Activision, Warner Bros. and Walt Disney Co.) and the performers’ union have not reached a deal after more than a year and a half of negotiations.
The major sticking point seems to be over artificial intelligence (AI) protections for voice-actor and motion-capture union performers.
The union says the video game companies refuse to agree to contract language that protects all union performers covered by a new contract, regarding the use of AI.
The studios’ definition of which union performers constitute a “performer” (and thus are entitled to protection) in the new agreement would then be at the heart of the conflict.
I’m a non-union voice actor who doesn’t do too many video games.
So why do I think this is strike important to me and many others?
Simple, really.
1. At this moment, artificial intelligence (AI) can allow almost anyone to credibly re-create and manipulate almost every video file and sound file in any matter they choose (for good or evil), without any kind dependable controls or barriers of distribution (copyright lawyers cannot keep up, the AI horse has long escaped the barn).
2. This very unpleasant and dangerous truth impacts every single individual on the planet, from a new born baby to a world leader. This means you too, whether or not you are a performer.
For the moment, let’s set aside that harsh reality for all of us and focus on the strike.
3. From a media production standpoint (TV shows, radio shows, streaming programs, video games, podcasts, etc), unprotected performers will be at a severe disadvantage in their careers (on-going payment, residuals, future work) if current or future companies can take past paid work and manipulate it via AI into NEW projects without compensating the performers. Not only CAN it happen in the future, it HAS happened already in the past and currently. That AI abuse is what SAG-AFTRA is fighting against, on behalf of its members, with this strike.
4. A successful outcome for SAG-AFTRA performers within a new video game agreement would hopefully provide a pro-performer template for future union agreements and even non-union agreements.
Like in most companies, salaries are often the biggest expense item for media employers – most media companies would have no compunction about cutting expenses (i.e. performers) to increase profit while garnering the same beloved audience products that AI can manufacture (and in many cases, create anew) for them, based on work recently or long-ago performed.
I see AI as extremely dangerous for the media industry and our society as a whole. It is not the panacea that people would like it to be — or that AI companies would like you to believe it is (ChatGPT and it’s ilk are not your friends).
People lulled into a faster, cheaper, lazier culture will too soon come to realize that the next job, that is no longer needed as a result of unregulated, uncontrolled AI, will be theirs.
Please at least pay attention to how this all plays out.
