Today, the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) announced a deal with AI technology company Replica Studios regarding the licensure and use of AI digital replicas of actors' voices in video games. But not all impacted voice actors are happy about it.
The deal, per a statement by SAG-AFTRA, supposedly "will enable Replica to engage SAG-AFTRA members under a fair, ethical agreement to safely create and license a digital replica of their voice. Licensed voices can be used in video game development and other interactive media projects from pre-production to final release." It apparently includes minimum terms and conditions, as well as requirements for performer consent and the ability to opt out of ongoing use of a digital voice double.
While the guild is lauding the the deal as "groundbreaking," a number of voice actors have taken to social media today to express concern, anger, and confusion regarding the deal. As many point out, a number of SAG-AFTRA voice actors don't want companies to be able to make AI doubles of their voices at all, regardless of the terms.
Does leadership not understand that we actually like working? I don't want my AI replica being used in AAA games. I want to actually *work* on those AAA games.
— Kamran Nikhad (@KamranNikhad) January 9, 2024
If the vast majority of VO actors are saying not to scrub our voices, then how is this endless push at all "ethical"? https://t.co/sxCUZpyHnf
“safely explore new employment opportunities for their digital voice replicas” this verbiage is so bizarre. No actors are actively trying to monetize their AI replica, *we don’t want it in the first place.* We want to act. Which, if put to vote, you would have known already.
— Pax Helgesen (@paxsonh) January 9, 2024
Others are upset that the deal was apparently made without wider communication to union members at large, with many voice actors stating that they felt they had no voice in the final decision and are not aware of the deal's terms.
Oh.... oh no. @sagaftra no. The fact that they don't include any details of the agreement makes me immediately pessimistic. There's no way this is actually good for us. If it is a good agreement I will happily eat my words but.... oh no. https://t.co/tFcD2119Tj
— Jennifer Caitlin Roberts (@akaGhostBird) January 9, 2024
"Approved by affected members of the union’s voiceover performer community..." Uhhh, where and when @sagaftra???
— Shelby Young (@shelby_young) January 9, 2024
Wasn't aware of this until *just* now and I'm the exact type of member you're talking about. https://t.co/PMvhZumiUS
Every voice actor I know not only didn't approve this, they pretty much heard about this for the first time today on Twitter.
— Yong Yea (@YongYea) January 9, 2024
I don't remember voting on this
— Chelsea Rebecca ?? (@carebecc) January 9, 2024
Still others are digging into Replica's existing AI library online, with several pointing out that the quality of the AI voices it's offering doesn't exactly enthuse them on the idea:
So this is what SAG-AFTRA betrayed voice actors for. This is complete fucking garbage. There's no soul to these voices. No personality. Pure slop. https://t.co/73OBzjHtlg
— ?Storm™? (@ARCTIC_ST0RM) January 9, 2024
Oh my god, I clicked through the Replica "AI Voices" that SAG-AFTRA made a deal with just to see...
— Rutledge Daugette ? (@TheRealRutledge) January 9, 2024
These have no feeling. They're so awkward. If these were used in a game I played, I'd be so knocked out of the immersion.https://t.co/45YwXEksn7
Please pay real people.
However, in response, some SAG-AFTRA union leaders and supporters are pointing out that the deal appears to be fully within SAG-AFTRA's past stated mission — not to fully ban AI voices, but to work with companies to ensure actors have options and are fairly compensated and consulted when AI is used. Members are being encouraged to speak to organizing leadership about their concerns, with committee member and Deathloop voice actor Linsay Rousseau suggesting a town hall to answer member questions is currently being planned.
The union has always been upfront that their goal was never to ban AI. Their stated goal has always been to create proper safeguards and compensation for it. So before union members bash a deal they haven’t seen yet, I think it’s best to hear the NegCom out on the details.
— Dave Wallace (@DaveWallaceVO) January 9, 2024
We are organizing a town hall hopefully for next week to answer all these questions. https://t.co/qn1o5wdUqg
— Linsay Rousseau (@LinsayRousseau) January 9, 2024
Amid the outcry, some voice actors have brought up that the union only just last year authorized a strike (though it did not actually go on strike) over, among many other issues, AI protections. While this is true (we spoke to several members who were picketing outside of The Game Awards in December), it's also true that agreements like the one with Replica seem to fit within those stated protections. As Sarah Elmaleh, chair of SAG-AFTRA’s Interactive Media Negotiating Committee, said at the time:
“We’re not asking for a full prohibition on AI, and we’ve clarified that the use of AI as a convenient way to do conventional post processing and cleanup is completely fine. What actors deserve and what we are asking for is, if you’re intending to use AI to create new performance that a performer didn’t actually perform, that you provide transparency around the intended use, proper informed consent (not written in confusing legalese, buried in a rider), and fair compensation.
“We think these terms are reasonable and collaborative, and allow us to partner with developers in stepping into a new paradigm using this technology without improperly exploiting the talent and effort of the professional performer community.”
This conflict comes at an inflection point for the industry, at a time when studios are undergoing mass layoffs while increasing use of AI technologies, sparking debates about what level of AI adoption is acceptable before humans begin to suffer negative impacts. It's worth noting as well that SAG-AFTRA still has yet to reach an agreement for a contract with major video game companies, though the Replica deal was likely one attempted step toward something more final. As of this piece, the interactive media union members are still authorized to strike, but have not yet done so.
IGN has reached out to SAG-AFTRA for comment.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Thumbnail credit: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images
