Negotiations over AI technology in video game development have been ongoing for months, with no end in sight. As a result, production on many games has come to a grinding halt, leaving actors without work and frustrated.
The strike, led by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), began over six months ago when negotiations between the union and major video game companies failed to yield an agreement. The main sticking point is the use of AI technology in games, which has raised concerns among actors about job safety, wages, and ownership over their own voices.
Jennifer Hale, a renowned voice actor known for her work on Mass Effect and Bayonetta 3, believes that the complexity of AI technology is a major factor in the prolonged negotiations. "AI is an existential issue for all of us," she says. "It's a huge issue for all of us, and the repercussions are vast."
Hale notes that there are different agendas at play in the negotiation room, with some parties prioritizing profit protection over people. She believes that the use of AI technology requires a nuanced approach, one that balances the needs of all stakeholders.
In particular, Hale emphasizes the importance of actors having control over their own voices and being compensated fairly for their work. "We need to be able to control when our voice is used," she says. "I don't want my voice used on a project that I would never support or that I didn't say yes to."
The strike has received widespread support from the global acting community, including the UK's Equity union, which has launched an AI toolkit to protect performers.
While some game companies have signed onto the interim Interactive Media Agreement, Hale notes that there are still significant differences between this agreement and a full-scale deal. "There are a couple of entities who want to protect their potential profits in the future and leave lots of doors open," she says. "You don't write rules of the road for most sensible, considerate people. You write them for the ones who are going to drink-drive and take somebody out."
Ultimately, Hale believes that a great negotiation requires compromise from all parties involved. "A great negotiation ends up with everybody being a little unhappy," she says. "I think it's really important that we all remember, that is the definition of compromise. We're not in there to get our way. We're in there to protect our future."