SAG-AFTRA Says It's Still 'Frustratingly Far Apart' From Games Industry Bargaining Group on AI Protections

The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has provided an update to its members regarding the ongoing negotiations for AI protections in video game acting. While some progress has been made, SAG-AFTRA remains "frustratingly far apart" from the industry bargaining group, comprised of major AAA gaming companies, on several critical issues.

SAG-AFTRA has illustrated the discrepancies between their proposals and those of the bargaining group in a detailed chart. Key points of contention include:

• Protection from the use of digital replicas or generative AI for all past and future work, not just work produced after the agreement's effective date.
• A clear definition of "digital replica." SAG-AFTRA proposes any performance, vocal or movement, "readily identifiable or attributable to" a performer, while the bargaining group favors "objectively identifiable," which SAG-AFTRA believes could exclude many performances.
• The inclusion of "movement" performers in the generative AI agreement.
• Terminology for AI-created performances: SAG-AFTRA prefers "real-time generation," whereas the bargaining group proposes "procedural generation," which SAG-AFTRA argues has a different meaning in the gaming context.
• Disclosure requirements about blending voices to create digital replicas and using voices for real-time chatbots versus scripted dialogue.
• SAG-AFTRA's proposal to withdraw consent for digital replica use during strikes, contrasted with the employers' desire to continue using them, even on struck games.
• The duration of consent for real-time generation: SAG-AFTRA suggests five years, while the bargaining group wants unlimited dialogue consent.
• Minimum compensation for digital replica creation and use, where disagreements persist despite tentative agreement on bonus pay calculations.
• The bargaining group's proposal, similar to the SAG-AFTRA TV/Film agreement, grants employers additional rights upon payment of a premium, which SAG-AFTRA finds too broad and potentially circumventing union rights.
• A system to track digital replica usage to ensure proper compensation, which the bargaining group considers unfeasible.
• Specific definitions and regulations for "synthetic" performers created entirely by generative AI systems.

Despite these disagreements, tentative agreements have been reached on issues like bonus pay, dispute resolution, some minimum compensation elements, consent requirements, and certain disclosures. However, SAG-AFTRA is concerned that the bargaining employers are misleading members about being close to a deal. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator, warned members about the risks of accepting roles without adequate protections during the strike, emphasizing the potential for AI misuse to replace performers without consent or compensation.

Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the video game industry bargaining group, responded by highlighting their proposed deal, which includes over 15% wage increases, enhanced health and safety protections, and industry-leading terms for AI digital replicas, along with additional compensation for use in other games. They expressed eagerness to return to the bargaining table to finalize an agreement.

The SAG-AFTRA video game strike, now in its eighth month, was triggered by disagreements over AI provisions despite agreement on 24 out of 25 other contract proposals. The impact of the strike is increasingly visible, with games like Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft showing unvoiced NPCs in otherwise voiced scenes. Riot's attempt to cancel a game in response to the strike led to the striking of League of Legends, and Activision recast characters in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 after player feedback. Most recently, two Zenless Zone Zero voice actors discovered their replacement through the game's latest patch notes.