The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has recently provided an update to its members regarding the ongoing negotiations with the video game industry over AI protections for actors. While some progress has been made, the guild acknowledges that they remain "frustratingly far apart" from the industry's bargaining group on several critical issues.
SAG-AFTRA has released a detailed chart illustrating the discrepancies between their proposals and those of the bargaining group, which represents major AAA gaming companies. Key points of contention include:
- Comprehensive protection from the use of digital replicas or generative AI across all past and future work.
- A clear definition of "digital replica." SAG-AFTRA proposes it should encompass any performance that is "readily identifiable or attributable to" a performer, while the bargaining group suggests "objectively identifiable," a criterion SAG-AFTRA believes could exclude many performances.
- Inclusion of "movement" performers in the generative AI agreement.
- The term "real-time generation" for AI-created performances, opposed to the bargaining group's preference for "procedural generation," which SAG-AFTRA argues has a different meaning in the gaming context.
- Disclosure requirements for employers regarding the blending of voices to create digital replicas and the use of voices in real-time chatbots versus scripted dialogue.
- SAG-AFTRA's proposal to withdraw consent for digital replica use during a strike, contrasted with the employers' desire to continue using them, even in games affected by the strike.
- The duration of consent for real-time generation: SAG-AFTRA suggests a five-year limit requiring renewal, while the bargaining group seeks unlimited consent.
- Compensation levels for digital replica creation and use, where both parties have tentatively agreed on bonus pay calculations but disagree on minimum payments.
- A proposal from the bargaining group that mirrors a SAG-AFTRA TV/Film agreement, offering employers certain bonuses in exchange for premium payments, which SAG-AFTRA finds too broad and potentially circumventing union rights.
- A system proposed by SAG-AFTRA to track digital replica usage to ensure fair compensation, which the bargaining group deems unfeasible and is only willing to discuss as part of future negotiations.
- Specific definitions and regulations for "synthetic" performers created entirely by generative AI.
Despite these differences, tentative agreements have been reached on several issues, including bonus pay, dispute resolution, some minimum compensation elements, consent requirements, and certain disclosures to performers. However, SAG-AFTRA has expressed concern in their letter to members that the employers may be misleading them about the proximity to a final deal.
In the letter, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, warned members about the pressures on employers due to the ongoing strike, urging them not to accept roles without adequate AI protections, as doing so could undermine the strike and expose themselves to exploitation.
In response, Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the video game industry bargaining group, stated that they have offered a deal including over 15% wage increases, enhanced health and safety protections, industry-leading terms for AI digital replicas, and additional compensation for cross-game use of performances. They expressed eagerness to return to negotiations to finalize an agreement.
The SAG-AFTRA video game strike, now in its eighth month, was initially sparked by disagreements over AI provisions, despite 24 out of 25 other contract proposals being agreed upon. The impact of the strike is becoming more visible, with players noting unvoiced NPCs in games like Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft. SAG-AFTRA also struck against League of Legends, and Activision had to recast characters in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 following player concerns. Most recently, two voice actors for Zenless Zone Zero discovered their replacement through the game's latest patch notes.
