In a groundbreaking move for the gaming industry, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has partnered with Replica Studios, a leading voice technology company, to allow studios to utilize voices generated by artificial intelligence (AI) in their games. The new agreement not only grants access to top SAG-AFTRA talent but also ensures that actors have control over the use of their digital voice replicas with industry-leading protections.
Under the terms of this collaboration, Replica Studios will need to obtain consent from voice actors for the use of their voices and engage in further negotiations regarding the specific terms of use. Additionally, performers will have the option to opt out of having their voices featured in future projects. This contract applies to a range of interactive media, spanning from pre-production to the final release of the game.
The announcement of this groundbreaking agreement took place at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2024, setting the stage for a new era of voice technology in gaming. Just the day before, it was unveiled that Ubisoft and Tencent had partnered with NVIDIA, utilizing its AI-generated Ace toolset to create lifelike non-player characters (NPCs).
The use of AI voices has been a subject of intense debate in the gaming industry. Voice actors have voiced concerns in the past about contract clauses that required them to relinquish their voice rights, and their overall skepticism toward the technology is evident. However, with the implementation of this agreement, it is possible that we may witness the normalization of AI-generated voices in the industry.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the national executive director and chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, emphasized the importance of this agreement in securing actors’ consent and participation in the future of voice replication in video games. He acknowledged the actors’ position at the forefront of AI implementation and the associated risks that come with it.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the collaboration between SAG-AFTRA and Replica Studios paves the way for exciting advancements in voice technology. This partnership not only ensures actors’ involvement but also establishes a framework to protect their rights in the rapidly expanding field of AI-generated voices.
The source of the article is from the blog crasel.tk