The American actors union SAG-AFTRA has reached a landmark agreement with artificial intelligence company Ethovox, providing important protection for actors’ rights in AI voice models. This move marks that the entertainment industry is actively seeking effective ways to protect the rights and interests of actors while responding to the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology. The editor of Downcodes will explain the content of the agreement and its far-reaching significance in detail.
The Screen Actors Guild SAG-AFTRA and artificial intelligence company Ethovox recently signed an agreement to protect actors' rights in artificial intelligence voice models. The main goal of the agreement is to establish a responsible framework for the use of AI in the entertainment industry and ensure that actors’ rights and interests are safeguarded in the new technological era.
Under the agreement, actors will receive an upfront payment when their voices are recorded and will share in subsequent revenue. This means that actors receive a fair financial return when their voices are used in AI models. Additionally, the agreement stipulates that any use of an actor's voice must be done with their express consent and that use of the data is limited to specific, approved purposes. These terms are intended to prevent the misuse of artificial intelligence technology and ensure that the creations of sound artists are not infringed.
Ethovox promises to ensure that actors’ individual voices are not identifiable in the final AI model, a measure that will help protect actors’ privacy and identity. Company CEO Cissy Jones said that the application of artificial intelligence should be the choice of artists, and emphasized that the company fully considers the opinions of actors when formulating policies.
The agreement was reached on the basis of a series of successful negotiations. SAG-AFTRA recently reached similar agreements with 80 video game companies, which also include protections against unauthorized use of sound and images. Additionally, the Screen Actors Guild has reached agreements with major record labels that require actors' consent and compensation for digital sound reproduction. The union used a four-month strike last year to secure agreements with film studios that require the use of digital copies to be approved and paid equal to original performances.
This series of measures and agreements marks important progress for the Actors Guild in protecting the rights and interests of artists, especially in the context of the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, ensuring that actors can receive the respect and protection they deserve in the digital age.
The cooperation agreement between Ethovox and SAG-AFTRA provides a reference for other companies and sets a new benchmark for the future application of artificial intelligence technology in the entertainment industry. This not only protects the rights and interests of actors, but also promotes the healthy development of artificial intelligence technology and achieves a balance between technological progress and humanistic care.