The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has provided an update to its members regarding the ongoing negotiations over AI protections for video game actors. While progress has been made, the guild remains "frustratingly far apart" from the industry bargaining group, which includes representatives from major AAA gaming companies, on several key issues.
SAG-AFTRA has released a chart highlighting the differences between its proposals and those of the bargaining group. The unresolved issues include:
- Protection from Digital Replica or Generative AI Use: SAG-AFTRA seeks protection for all work, not just work produced after the agreement's effective date.
- Definition of "Digital Replica": The guild wants to include any performance, vocal or movement, "readily identifiable or attributable to" a performer. The bargaining group prefers "objectively identifiable," which SAG-AFTRA believes could exclude many performances.
- Inclusion of "Movement" Performers: SAG-AFTRA wants to include these performers in the generative AI agreement.
- Terminology for AI-Created Performances: SAG-AFTRA proposes "real-time generation," while the bargaining group suggests "procedural generation," which the guild argues has a different meaning in games.
- Disclosure Requirements: Whether employers must disclose blending voices for digital replicas or using voices for real-time chatbots versus scripted dialogue.
- Consent During Strikes: SAG-AFTRA's proposal withdraws consent for digital replica use during strikes, while employers want to continue using them, even on struck games.
- Duration of Consent for Real-Time Generation: SAG-AFTRA proposes a five-year limit, after which consent must be renewed. The bargaining group seeks unlimited consent.
- Compensation for Digital Replica Use: Disagreements on minimum pay, though tentative agreement on bonus pay calculation has been reached.
- Bonus Rights for Employers: The bargaining group's proposal, similar to the SAG-AFTRA TV/Film agreement, is considered too broad by the guild, potentially circumventing union rights.
- Tracking Digital Replica Use: SAG-AFTRA wants a system to ensure performers are paid appropriately, while the bargaining group deems this unfeasible.
- Definitions and Regulations for "Synthetic" Performers: Clarifications needed on characters created entirely by generative AI systems.
Despite these differences, tentative agreements have been reached on bonus pay, dispute resolution, certain minimum compensation elements, consent requirements, and some disclosures. However, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, expressed concern that the bargaining employers are misrepresenting the proximity to a deal.
In response, Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the video game industry bargaining group, stated that they have proposed a deal with over 15% wage increases, enhanced health and safety protections, industry-leading AI terms, and additional compensation for cross-game use of performances. They are eager to return to negotiations.
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 strike's impact is becoming visible, with games like Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft showing unvoiced NPCs, and incidents like the recasting of characters in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Zenless Zone Zero.
