The Screen Actors Guild SAG-AFTRA has recently signed an agreement with artificial intelligence company Ethovox, aimed at protecting actors' rights in AI voice models. The primary goal of this agreement is to establish a responsible framework for AI usage in the entertainment industry, ensuring that actors' rights are upheld in the era of new technology.
Under this agreement, actors will receive upfront payments when recording their voices and will share in subsequent revenues. This means that actors can receive fair economic compensation when their voices are used in AI models. Additionally, the agreement stipulates that any use of an actor's voice must be explicitly consented to by the actor, and the data usage is limited to specific, approved purposes. These terms are designed to prevent the misuse of artificial intelligence technology and ensure that voice artists' creations are not infringed upon.
Ethovox commits to ensuring that actors' personal voices are unidentifiable in the final AI model, a measure that will help protect actors' privacy and identity. The company's CEO, Cissy Jones, stated that the application of artificial intelligence should be an artist's choice and emphasized the company's consideration of actors' opinions in policy-making.
This agreement was reached on the basis of a series of successful negotiations. SAG-AFTRA has recently reached similar agreements with 80 video game companies, which also include protections against unauthorized use of voices and images. Additionally, the actors' union has reached agreements with major record companies, requiring consent and compensation for digital voice replication. Last year, the union secured an agreement with film studios through a four-month strike, stipulating that the use of digital replicas must be approved and receive compensation equivalent to the original performance.
These measures and agreements mark significant progress by SAG-AFTRA in protecting artists' rights, especially in the context of rapid development in artificial intelligence technology, ensuring that actors are respected and protected in the digital age.
Key Points:
🎤 SAG-AFTRA and Ethovox have reached an agreement to protect actors' voice rights, ensuring compensation and consent.
🤖 Actors will remain anonymous in AI models using their voices, protecting personal privacy.
📅 This agreement is the result of successful negotiations by the union over the past year, covering various fields including video games, record companies, and film studios.
