Hollywood's video game performers voted to go on strike Thursday, throwing part of the entertainment industry into another work stoppage after talks for a new contract with major game studios broke down over artificial intelligence protections. The strike — the second for video game voice actors and motion capture performers belonging to the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union — will begin at 12:01 a.m.
Friday. The move comes after nearly two years of negotiations with gaming giants, including divisions of Activision , Warner Bros. and Walt Disney Co.
, over a new interactive-media agreement. 'Enough is enough': SAG-AFTRA president SAG-AFTRA negotiators say gains have been made over wages and job safety in the video game contract but that the studios will not make a deal over the regulation of generative AI. Without guardrails, game companies could train AI to replicate an actor's voice or create a digital replica of their likeness without consent or fair compensation, the union said.
Fran Drescher, the union's president, said in a prepared statement that members would not approve a contract that would allow companies to "abuse AI." "Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we will be here, ready to negotiate," Drescher said.
SAG-AFTRA captains Iris Liu, left, and Miki Yamashita, centre, and SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland lead a c.