The current US actors' strike has centered on AI as a bargaining point, with the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) demanding protections from AI technology that can create a "digital replica" of an actor without their consent. Most voice actors aren't in a union, and with the industry's relatively less organized nature, it is becoming easier for AI to take over tasks that once only humans could do.
Key takeaways:
- Project Gutenberg, the world's oldest digital library, has used AI to transform thousands of ebooks into audiobooks, raising concerns among actors who fear this technology could threaten their careers.
- The AI audiobook reader lacks the versatility and depth that human actors bring to the work, but the process is quick, scalable, and free, posing a clear threat to acting work.
- AI has been a central issue in the ongoing US actors' strike, with actors demanding protections from AI technology that can create a "digital replica" of an actor without their consent.
- Most voice actors are not in a union, making it easier for AI to take over tasks that were once only done by humans. Uniting their voices might be necessary to ensure that voice actors can maintain their rights to use them.