While the union says headway was made on many issues, the companies “refuse to plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their AI language.”
“We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher in a statement. The strike begins Friday.
A lobbying firm for the game companies said bargaining was in good faith and that agreements were made in a majority of proposals.
“We have already found common ground on 24 out of 25 proposals, including historic wage increases and additional safety provisions,” said Audrey Cooling, executive vice president of Lot Sixteen, a D.C. firm. “Our offer is directly responsive to SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and extends meaningful AI protections that include requiring consent and fair compensation to all performers working under the Interactive Media Agreement.” She said it would be “among the strongest in the entertainment industry.”
Last September, 98 percent of the more than 34,000 members voted in favor of a strike. The guild’s last strike against gaming companies, in 2016 and 2017, lasted 183 days.
The fear of talent being replaced by AI is especially acute in the games industry, where digitized faces and voices are the standard. An investigation in Wired this month revealed game companies such as Activision-Blizzard are already using generative AI tools to help create games.
Various voice talents in the games industry spoke up in support of the strike.
“Fellow gamers, let’s hear your support for the union actors and stunts and more who help bring awesome games to life,” wrote actor Sean Astin.
Our Union @sagaftra Represents Many Performers.
Outrageously, The Video Game Contract #Interactive DOES NOT HAVE LAST YEAR’S A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) PROTECTIONS. When One Member-One Contract Goes On Strike…ALL MEMBERS UNITE!!!!!
FELLOW GAMERS LET’S HEAR YOUR SUPPORT FOR… pic.twitter.com/SkiEZsgykL— Sean Astin (@SeanAstin) July 25, 2024
The strike will also revive a conversation among video game streamers and content creators on whether they might be “scabs” for promoting games from one of these companies.
SAG-AFTRA, which represents tens of thousands of actors, disrupted Hollywood productions for months in a widespread strike last year. They reached a deal in November that included protections against the use of artificial intelligence.
