The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has signed a landmark agreement with AI voice company Ethovox to set clear specifications for AI applications of actor voice data, marking a sign that the entertainment industry is protecting actors in the AI era. A major breakthrough in equity. This agreement not only provides a reliable framework for the application of AI technology in the entertainment industry, but also provides a reference for other industries, establishes a new standard for protecting the rights and interests of creators, and reflects the balance between technological progress and rights protection.
According to the agreement, actors will receive voice recording fees and ongoing revenue sharing generated by the application of AI voice models. Any use of voice data must be expressly authorized by the actors and limited to approved uses. Ethovox promises not to recognize individual voice characteristics in the final AI model and to focus on diversity and inclusion principles. SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland emphasized that only more contractual protections, not less, can ensure the professional survival of voice actors and prevent the industry from spiraling out of control.
Cissy Jones, CEO of Ethovox (she is also a voice actor herself) emphasized that the application of AI technology must be based on the voluntary basis of artists. SAG-AFTRA has previously reached similar agreements with 80 game companies and major record labels, and also obtained equally strong protection terms from movie studios after last year's strike. These ongoing protection measures show that the entertainment industry is actively adapting to new technologies while striving to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of creators.
These ongoing protection measures show that while the entertainment industry is actively adapting to new technologies in the AI era, it is also working hard to protect the legitimate rights and interests of creators, laying a solid foundation for the healthy development of the entire industry.
The editor of Downcodes believes that the cooperation agreement between Ethovox and SAG-AFTRA provides a positive example for the integration of AI technology and the entertainment industry. It not only protects the rights and interests of actors, but also provides an important reference for the healthy development of AI technology. This provides valuable experience for the future application of AI technology in other fields. It also indicates that in a future where technology and humanistic care coexist, more similar agreements will emerge to promote the healthy development of technology.