However, some members have expressed concerns over the strength of the AI protections. The contract guarantees that studios cannot use AI to create digital replicas of performers without payment or approval, but does not prevent the creation of entirely fabricated characters using AI. Critics also argue that the contract allows studios to require body scans as a condition for employment and use past performances to train AI tools. Despite these concerns, SAG-AFTRA hailed the contract as an "enormous victory".
Key takeaways:
- Actors have ratified a new three-year contract with Hollywood studios, ending six months of labor unrest, but some members of SAG-AFTRA are dissatisfied with the deal's artificial intelligence protections.
- The contract was ratified with 78 percent of the vote, with more than 50,000 members submitting ballots during the three-week voting period.
- The new contract guarantees that studios will not use A.I. tools to create digital replicas of performers without payment or approval, but does not bar studios from creating entirely fabricated characters using artificial intelligence.
- Some actors have criticized the contract for allowing studios to require body scans as a condition for employment and for using past performances to train A.I. tools.