Video game scandal: trade union approves use of AI to generate voices without actors’ consent

In the video game industry, we go from controversy to controversy. After resolving a dispute with Hollywood production companies, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which also includes video game voice artists, have reached an agreement allow the use of artificial intelligence to generate votes.

According to DiversityThe union has approved that video game studios can reproduce the voices of actors using tools based on artificial intelligence.

“These are terms that producers can agree to without harming their ability to create content. This is an evolutionary step forward. AI technology is not something we can block. This is not something we can stop. This is not a tactic or strategy that has ever worked for workers in the past,” said union director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.

This agreement now includes some contradictions. First of all, one of the biggest fears of the participants was precisely that artificial intelligence would eventually replace their activities and take away their jobs. While they did not intend to completely eradicate the practice, they did call for regulation or ethical use.

This movement was so amazing that Some union-affiliated voice actors were quick to publicly express their displeasure.. For example, Erica Ishii, who voices Valkyrie Apex Legendsquestioned the approval of the agreement without the approval of the translators: “Approved… By whom exactly? Are any of the “affected members” who approved this an active voice actor?”

For his part, the famous Steve Blum, who participated in the Marvel games and Mortal Kombatalso voiced his criticism in a now-deleted post saying the community approved of it. Video games are a big part of my life and have been for many years. Who do they mean?

Melissa MedinaSatarfield, valiant), made an even more explosive statement. Via X, he reported that several developers had confirmed to him that their studios don’t even intend to use union-promoted artificial intelligence tools. Thus, it is obvious that there is a complete gap between those who are responsible for the group and the actors themselves. They signed the agreement behind their back, and now they are being exposed.

The curious – and unfortunate – point is that the union agreement presupposes Replica Studio, a company that provides artificial intelligence solutions for creating voices for video games and film production. It’s as if the union is trying to impose one single tool among the many available…

Undoubtedly, this is only the beginning of a novel that will have several chapters. The actors’ union leadership signs agreements without the approval of those it claims to represent. However, translators have another card in their favor: the ability to organize a strike, whether the SAG-AFTRA directors like it or not…