Video game voice actors criticize the union SAG-AFTRA over an agreement deal with Replica Studios to replicate their voices via AI. Read here to learn more about the agreement and the responses of voice actors.
SAG-AFTRA and REPLICA Deal
AI will Replicate the Voices of Actors
SAG-AFTRA, a union representing actors and entertainers, and Replica Studios, a technology company replicating voices using artificial intelligence (AI), announced a partnership deal at CES 2024 on January 9, 2024. This deal would allow video game companies to use AI replicas of SAG-AFTRA talents under "a fair, ethical agreement."
According to the SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, this agreement ensures that the performer will have "consent and negotiation for the use of their voices," be compensated fairly, and have the ability to "opt out of its continued use in new works."
Approved by affected members of the union’s voiceover performer community, the union stated that this deal is "an important step towards the ethical use of AI voices in creative projects by game developers," sets the basis for fair and equitable employment of voice actors, and opens up a new revenue stream provided by AI.
SAG-AFTRA Deal Was Not Approved By Voice Talents
Following the announcement, prominent voice actors took to Twitter(x) to criticize and voice their grievance over SAG-AFTRA claiming they were not informed by the union nor did they agree to this deal.
Steve Blum, a prominent voice actor known for voicing Ares in God of War and Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat X, commented on the union’s announcement post on Twitter(X), saying "Nobody in our community approved this that I know of." Yong Yea, the voice actor for Kazama Kiryu in Like a Dragon: Gaiden and Infinite Wealth, reposted the announcement with the same sentiments as Steve’s.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Voice Actor Thomas Mitchel calls this a "disapointing agreement" that will have "a detrimental effect on artists."
Reports from Variety’s official website state that the union and its executive director, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, are engaged in similar negotiations with other major video game studios.
Source:
SAG-AFTRA and Replica Studios Introduce Groundbreaking AI Voice Agreement at CES
SAG-AFTRA Signs Deal With Voiceover Studio for AI Use in Video Games
