(26 Jul 2024)
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Los Angeles – 25 July 2024
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Elmaleh, SAG-AFTRA chair of the negotiating committee:
“We’ve announced a strike on our video game contract. And, as of 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, work will stop on all affected titles for all members of this union, until we are able to receive a counter from our bargaining group that gives us the AI protection, specifically, that we need.”
2. Close up of t-shirt reading (English) “ON STRIKE!”
3. Wide of SAG-AFTRA committee
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Elmaleh, SAG-AFTRA chair of the negotiating committee:
“There’s significant loopholes in the language that we got back, loopholes that would affect, or leave open exploitation, the possibility for exploitation, both for members performing with their voice and with their movement, or in some cases, all three. … Until we see it in language that we can, you know, reliably, tell our membership is safe for them to continue working under. Then we need to, to exert this degree of pressure on our bargaining group, to indicate our seriousness about this issue.”
STORYLINE:
Hollywood’s video game performers announced they would 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 under the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists — 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.
SAG-AFTRA negotiators say gains have been made over wages and job safety in the video game contract, but that the two sides remained split over the regulation of generative AI.
A spokesperson for the video game producers, Audrey Cooling, said the studios offered AI protections, but SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee said that the studios’ definition of who constitutes a “performer” is key to understanding the issue of who would be protected.
AP video by Eugene Garcia
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source
date: 2024-07-31 00:27:52
duration: 00:00:47
author: UCHTK-2W11Vh1V4uwofOfR4w
Video Game Performers Strike Over Artificial Intelligence Concerns
A union representing video game performers, including voice actors and motion capture artists, has announced a strike over concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their contracts. The strike is set to begin at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow and will affect all titles that are currently under contract.
The main issue at hand is the lack of clear language regarding AI protection in the current contract. The union believes that the current language has significant loopholes that could allow for exploitation of the performers’ work, particularly in cases where AI is used to create or augment their performances.
The performers are seeking a counter-proposal from their bargaining group that addresses these concerns and provides adequate protection for their work. Until this proposal is received, the performers will not return to work.
This strike highlights the growing concerns among creative professionals about the impact of AI on their livelihoods. As AI technology continues to advance, it’s essential for workers to have clear guidelines and protections in place to ensure their work is valued and respected.
This development is particularly relevant in the context of DeFi (Decentralized Finance), where AI is being increasingly used to automate and optimize various financial processes. As the use of AI in finance continues to grow, it’s crucial that workers and consumers alike understand the implications and safeguards surrounding its adoption.
Some general interesting DeFi facts:
- DeFi protocols are estimated to have surpassed $100 billion in total value locked (TVL) in 2021, with the majority of it being in decentralized lending platforms.
- The decentralized lending platform, Compound, has seen over $10 billion in TVL since its inception in 2018.
- The use of AI in DeFi can help optimize lending decisions, automate risk assessment, and improve overall efficiency in financial transactions.
