Video game actors' strike officially ends after AI deal

After a year-long strike, video game actors in the United States have finally reached an agreement with major gaming companies over the use of artificial intelligence, or AI, in their work. The strike involved about 2,500 members of the SAG-Aftra union, who work for some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Activision and Electronic Arts. The main issue was how AI could be used to copy or replicate an actor's voice and movements, which many performers feared could threaten their jobs and creativity.

Negotiations between the union and the companies lasted for about 18 months, with the strike officially starting last July. At first, both sides had agreed on almost all the issues, but the biggest problem was how AI could be used to create digital versions of actors without their full consent. The union wanted clear rules to make sure that actors would have control over their digital likenesses and performances. The new contract, which was approved by 95 percent of voting union members, now requires companies to get an actor's permission before using AI to make a digital replica. Actors can also withdraw their consent if they change their minds in the future.

The agreement also includes better pay and improved health and safety protections for video game performers. According to a spokesperson for the companies, the deal brings historic wage increases and industry-leading AI protections. Ashly Burch, a well-known video game actor who supported the strike, said that performers are not against AI itself, but they want to make sure it is used fairly. She explained that actors want to be asked for their consent, to know how their digital copies will be used, and to be paid fairly for it. During the strike, an AI-powered version of one of Ashly's characters was leaked, and many fans said they preferred real human performances over AI-generated ones.

The strike did not affect every part of the video game industry. Some companies made special agreements with the union so that actors could keep working on certain projects. For example, actors Robbie Daymond and Ray Chase were able to continue working on their game, Date Everything, because of one of these deals. However, the strike was still tough for many performers, especially those who do motion capture work, which involves recording their movements for use in games. Some actors lost income because they could not work as much during the strike. Both the union and the companies say they are happy to have reached a peaceful solution, and they hope the new rules will protect actors and help the industry move forward.