The American Actors Union SAG-AFTRA signed a landmark agreement with AI voice company Ethovox to set clear specifications for the application of actor voice data in the AI field, which not only provides a reliable AI application framework for the entertainment industry, but also Set a new benchmark for protecting actors' rights. The agreement emphasizes the dual benefits and right to know that actors should enjoy in the AI era, and makes clear provisions on the identification and protection of personal voice characteristics in the AI model, effectively avoiding the risk of industry out of control. The conclusion of the agreement also highlights SAG-AFTRA's active efforts in safeguarding the rights and interests of actors, and provides valuable experience for the future integration and development of AI technology and the entertainment industry.
Under the agreement, the actor will receive the share of sound recording fees and AI application revenue, and have the final right to decide on the use of sound data. Ethovox promises to protect the uniqueness of actors’ voices and focus on diversity and inclusion in technology development. This move provides a reference for cooperation between other AI companies and the entertainment industry, and also indicates that the development of AI technology and the protection of artists' rights will be more balanced and symbiosis. SAG-AFTRA has previously reached similar agreements with several game companies and record companies to continuously safeguard the rights and interests of creators and lay a solid foundation for the healthy development of the entire industry.
Ethovox made several commitments in the protocol, the most critical of which is to ensure that in the final AI model, individual voice features will not be recognized, thus protecting the actor’s uniqueness. At the same time, the company will also focus on the principles of diversity and inclusion in the technology development process.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, stressed that in the AI era, only more, not less contract protection can ensure the professional survival of voice actors. He warned that the entire industry could fall into an out-of-control "Wild West" state without informed consent and fair compensation mechanisms.
It is worth mentioning that Ethovox CEO Cissy Jones is a voice actor himself. She particularly emphasized that the application of AI technology must be based on the voluntary basis of artists, which is also an important reason why the company has actively solicited opinions from the showbiz from the very beginning.
The conclusion of this agreement is not an isolated case. SAG-AFTRA has previously signed similar agreements with 80 gaming companies, establishing a protection mechanism to prevent unauthorized use of actors’ voices and images. Meanwhile, the union also reached an agreement with major record labels that digital sound reproduction must be authorized and paid. After a four-month strike last year, the union also received equal protection clauses from the film studios to ensure that the use of digital replicas requires actor approval and receive a comparable reward to the original performance.
These continued protection measures show that while the entertainment industry is actively adapting to new technologies in the AI era, it is also working hard to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of creators, laying a solid foundation for the healthy development of the entire industry.
The successful signing of this agreement provides a sample for the future integration and development of AI technology and creative industries, and also provides reference for similar cooperation in other industries around the world. It emphasizes that while technological progress, it is necessary to pay attention to and protect the rights and interests of creators in order to promote the healthy development of technology and the healthy prosperity of the industry.