Artificial intelligence is again at the center of Hollywood labor negotiations, this time between the Animation Guild and studios and streaming companies. The union — a chapter of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees — is seeking protections from generative AI, as well as pay equity and guardrails from subcontracting. Like the writers and actors strikes of last year and the ongoing video game performer walkout, the 6,000 artists, technicians, writers and production workers say this negotiation is critical to the fate of their industry.
"I am very concerned about AI," said color designer Tiffy Wang. "Animation deserves to remain a viable career." The union has been negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers since August.
The Guild extended its contract with the AMPTP through Nov. 1, and said in a recent statement that "progress has been made on some fronts," but the two sides are still far apart on some issues. The AMPTP has not responded to requests for comment.
The Animation Guild released a report last month that said its members' top concern was keeping generative AI from replacing union work. Brandon Jarratt, a technical director at Walt Disney Animation Studios who helped write that report, said animation workers are worried about their work being used to train AI models without their consent. He said the union's AI task force wants to regulate how AI is used in animation rather than rejecting it wholesale.
"We're gen.