Video Game Performers Fight for AI Protections Amid SAG-AFTRA Strikes

As the gaming industry continues to thrive, a growing row has emerged between video game performers and studios over the use of artificial intelligence. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has gone on strike, calling for protections for performers as AI technology threatens to reshape their livelihoods.

The Rising Tide of AI in Gaming

At the heart of the controversy is the potential for AI to automate aspects of performance and animation in video gaming. Motion capture is a crucial part of game development, where actors like Noshir Dalal, who appeared in "Star Wars Jedi: Survivor", endure physically demanding work to bring characters to life. Dalal's experience — where he suffered a tendon injury from extensive motion work — illustrates the intensity of the job.

Reports indicate that the global video game market is projected to reach $202.7 billion by 2025, according to Newzoo. This growth has led to an increasing interest in AI capabilities, as studios look to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. However, as Brian Smith, an assistant professor at Columbia University, notes, studios can now leverage past performances as data, making it easier to generate animations without new recordings. This shift raises questions: What happens to the actors who perform these motions?

The Struggle for Job Security

Video game performers fear that AI could threaten job opportunities, allowing studios to replicate their performances without consent. "If motion-capture actors only make whatever money they make that day, that can be a really slippery slope," Dalal expressed. He emphasized that the industry must prioritize transparency and fair compensation in AI protections.

The strike marks the second work stoppage by SAG-AFTRA in ten years as negotiations for a new interactive media agreement reached an impasse. Performers are not inherently against AI; they simply want to ensure that their work is acknowledged and protected. The current push for stronger protections includes safeguards against the use of actors' likenesses without their permission and addressing ethical concerns over how their performances can be manipulated.

Research from Newzoo indicates a trend where game developers are increasingly looking to AI-generated voices for characters. The report anticipates that traditional voice actors may face fewer opportunities as studios turn to cheaper, automated solutions. Games like "High on Life" have already showcased AI in voice production, highlighting a potential future where AI voices become standard across video games, sidelining human performers.

The Need for Ethical Standards

Among the more pressing concerns are the ethical implications of using AI to clone performers' voices and likenesses, particularly in problematic contexts. Controversies surrounding fan mods in games like "Skyrim" have already demonstrated issues, where AI-generated content using actors' performances appeared in adult content. This presents a clear ethical dilemma for performers who wish to protect their identities from non-consensual or immoral use.

Voices from the gaming industry echo this sentiment. Ben Prendergast, who voices Fuse in "Apex Legends", argued that AI-generated performances lack a human touch. "Someone can pick up that data now and go, we need a character that sounds like Ben Prendergast and can fight this battle scene," he said. The fact that creators could manipulate data to create characters without the actor's knowledge underscores the pressing need for policies guarding performers' rights.

Despite these challenges and a reported proposal from game producers for wage increases, the SAG-AFTRA committee emphasizes that definitions of "performer" are crucial in negotiations. Producers have put forth suggestions for "meaningful" AI protections but have faced resistance due to ambiguous terms surrounding the scope of such safeguards.

A Call for Change

As the gaming industry embraces technological advancements, the conversation surrounding AI and the rights of video game performers becomes paramount. The outcome of these negotiations will not only set the standards for compensation and recognition of performers, but the quality of the industry going forward.