Prominent voice actors in the US have expressed their anger and disappointment after a landmark deal was struck between leading actors’ union Sag-Aftra and AI firm Replica Studios, outlining how artificial intelligence-generated voices can be used in video games. The deal, which promises “fully informed consent and fair compensation” for actors, has been met with backlash from voice artists who feel they were not adequately consulted.
Many voice actors, who have long been concerned about the threat of AI replacing their profession, believe that the deal contradicts the purpose of a strike led by Sag-Aftra in 2023 to protect their rights. Fallout and Mortal Kombat voice actor Sunil Malhotra expressed frustration, stating that he had “sacrificed to strike” to preserve his profession, not to allow his AI replica to be utilized.
While Sag-Aftra claims the deal was approved by the affected voiceover performer community, several voice actors, including Steve Blum and Andrew Russell, have voiced their opposition, calling the agreement “garbage.” Other actors outside of the gaming industry, such as Joshua Seth and Veronica Taylor, have also criticized the deal.
Under the agreement, Replica Studios must obtain consent from actors before using their voices based on their likeness. Actors also have the right to deny the perpetual use of their voice without consent. However, these provisions have not appeased the discontent among voice actors who feel that their concerns have been disregarded.
Sag-Aftra president Fran Dresch defended the deal as a positive step for AI, while Replica Studios CEO Shreya Nivas described it as an “ethical approach.” Despite the controversy, the agreement sets a precedent for the use of AI-generated voices in video games, as it addresses the issue of consent and fair compensation for actors.
The source of the article is from the blog foodnext.nl