SAG-AFTRA, the world’s largest actors union recently signed a deal with an artificial intelligence (AI) voice technology company Replica Studios for voiceover use and the voice actors from games like Starfield, Diablo 4, and several others have hit back at the union over this “betrayal” of a deal.
SAG-AFTRA and Replica Studios announced the deal at the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 and called it a “groundbreaking AI voice agreement.” However, it found itself in a tight spot soon after the announcement as top industry talents called out the union.
Starfield, Diablo 4, and More Voice Actors Slam SAG-AFTRA Over AI Voiceover Deal
Replica Studios is a voice technology company that is creating a library of voice actor’s voice replicas for use in video games. The agreement between SAG-AFTRA and Replica Studios will allow voice actors and the studio to engage in an agreement to create and license voice replicas. This deal will allow video game companies working with Replica to use the voice replicas.
The actors will be at liberty to deny the company from using their voices. The licensed voice replicas can also be used in other interactive media formats from pre-production to release. The voice actors can deny the use of their voice replica in any new project they do not want to be associated with. SAG-AFTRA President called the deal “a great example of AI being done right.”
The union also stated that the deal is “approved by affected members of the union’s voiceover performer community.” However, voice actors throughout the industry called out the union soon after the announcement of the agreement and said that they had not been reached out about this, adding that they and anybody they know from the community approve.
Moreover, this agreement comes after the union protected writers and live-action actors with a nearly 4 months strike. The voice actors who have worked in games like Starfield and Diablo 4 and others in the gaming industry called out over social media and said that they have been let down by the union and nobody in the community approved of this.
Steve Blum, the voice actor who has voiced in several games including God of War, Diablo 4, and Mortal Kombat took to X/Twitter to share his disappointment with the deal and said:
Excuse me? With all due respect…you state in the article “Approved by affected members of the union’s voiceover performer community.” Nobody in our community approved this that I know of. Games are the bulk of my livelihood and have been for years. Who are you referring to?
Starfield and Deus Ex voice actor Elias Toufexis also expressed his views on the deal in a similar manner. Referring to the approval by members of the union statement from SAG-AFTRA, he said that he “humbly” considers himself one of the top voice actors in the video games and no one asked him about this. He further added, “No one reached out for my opinion. From what I’m seeing, no one asked any of my peers either.”
“Approved by affected members of the union’s voiceover performer community.”
I would humbly consider myself one of the top voice actors working in games. No one asked me about this. No one reached out for my opinion.From what I'm seeing, no one asked any of my peers either. https://t.co/1ODo3d9Du9
— ᴇʟɪᴀꜱ ᴛᴏᴜꜰᴇxɪꜱ 🖖 (@EliasToufexis) January 9, 2024
Another Starfield voice actor, Melissa Medína also responded to this deal calling it “a betrayal” and saying that she tried to inform the union about their failure in making any AI protections, and “they instead got in bed with an AI company.” She further asked the voice actors to not give their voices unless they were well aware of consent, compensation, and where their voices would be used.
What a betrayal. I tried to inform @sagaftra about their utter failure to make any REAL AI protections & they instead got in bed with an AI company. Don't give your voice to this. SAG proved it absolutely has no understanding of AI nor any intention to protect us from it. https://t.co/HxUJRHaRGk
— MELISSA MEDÍNA (@melissamedinavo) January 9, 2024
Thomas Mitchells, the voice actor in games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dying Light 2 called this a “disappointing agreement” and said that video game studios will look “past creativity for convenience.” He added that this will only harm voice actors and a union as influential as SAG-AFTRA accepting this agreement is troubling.
A disappointing agreement SAG-AFTRA have made regarding AI use.
Studios will look past creativity for convenience and this will potentially have a detrimental effect on artists.
I wasn't as concerned before but for the most influential trade union to accept this is troubling.
— Thomas Mitchells (@IAmTomMitchells) January 10, 2024
Several other voice actors reacted to the deal, such as Veronica Taylor from the Final Fantasy games called it a “slippery slope downward” and Jordan Reynolds from Street Fighter 6 said that he has immense respect for people on the committee who approved of this deal but wonders why weren’t voice actors consulted over this “generic-a** AI Agreement.”
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