SAG-AFTRA, the actors' union that represents voice actors and mo-cap performers in the gaming industry, has announced a groundbreaking agreement with AI voice studio Replica Studios. However, many voice actors are unhappy with the deal, as they claim they were not consulted and do not know anyone who was. The agreement will allow Replica to engage SAG-AFTRA members under a fair, ethical agreement to create and license a digital replica of their voice, according to SAG-AFTRA's official statement.
"We are thrilled to collaborate with Replica Studios as it exemplifies AI being utilized effectively," commented Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA president.
While the statement from SAG-AFTRA states that the AI deal was "approved by affected members of the union's voiceover performer community," several voice actors have taken to Twitter to express their disapproval of the agreement. They claim they were not consulted and do not know any voice actors who were.
Elias Toufexis, the voice of Adam Jensen in the Deus Ex series, expressed frustration at not being consulted about the decision. Similarly, Steve Blum stated that no one in the voice acting community had been consulted or approved of the new process. Replica Studios tweeted about the news and invited questions about their process, emphasizing their commitment to consent, contracts, and compensation for voice talent, as well as their goal to enhance narrative storytelling for the benefit of all parties involved.
In the past year, SAG-AFTRA has been negotiating for video game voice actors and mo-cap actors, addressing issues such as wage growth, workplace safety protections, and the use of AI. A strike was authorized in September as a last resort, but has not been activated. The recent deal with Replica Studios has sparked criticism, as it appears to be unrelated to the ongoing negotiations and involves the authorization of AI voice actors, despite AI being a contentious issue in the previous film and TV strike.
The film and TV agreement does not prohibit AI, but it does mandate that actors explicitly consent to how their digital replicas are utilized. It also requires studios to inform the union if they are considering using fully synthesized actors, giving the union an opportunity to negotiate for human actors to be cast instead. "Parties recognize the significance of human performance in films and the potential effects on employment," states one provision of the agreement.
AI voiceovers have begun to be featured in popular video games, with the free-to-play shooter The Finals facing backlash for utilizing AI voices for its announcers.
Editor's P/S
As a passionate fan of video games and a strong supporter of voice actors, I am deeply concerned about the recent approval of AI voice acting for video games by SAG-AFTRA. The fact that voice actors were not consulted before this decision was made is unacceptable and shows a lack of respect for their profession. Voice actors bring life to video game characters, and their work should be valued and protected.
I understand that AI technology is advancing rapidly and has the potential to revolutionize many industries, but I believe that using AI to replace voice actors is a step too far. Voice acting is a highly skilled profession that requires years of training and experience. AI voiceovers may be able to imitate the human voice, but they lack the emotional depth and nuance that human actors can bring to a performance.
