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Arts & Entertainment

Video game performers sign new contract. Here’s what we know about the deal with AI protections

A light-skinned woman with short hair wears a black long-sleeved shirt with pink, red, yellow and green accents. The shirt has motion sensors. She also wears black headgear. In the background, there are set lights.
Andi Norris is a motion performer in video games.
(
Andi Norris
)

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Video game performers have ratified a deal with companies after almost a year on strike.

Artificial intelligence was the key dispute between voice and movement actors, who are represented by SAG-AFTRA, and companies like Insomniac Games and Activision Productions. The agreement includes consent and disclosure requirements for the use of AI digital replicas, according to a joint statement from the union and video game companies.

"This deal achieves important progress around AI protections, and progress is the name of the game," SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher said in a statement.

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It also includes an immediate 15% pay increase and additional annual 3% boosts.

The deal was approved by the artists with a 95% yes vote.

Audrey Cooling, a representative for the video game producers, said in a statement that the contract “delivers historic wage increases, industry-leading AI protections, and enhanced health and safety measures for performers."

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The agreement concludes a three-year long bargaining process. Along the way, Hollywood saw the twin actor and writer strikes in 2023, which also focused in part on the threat of artificial intelligence.

Note: Some members of the LAist newsroom are represented by SAG-AFTRA. They are not involved in this labor dispute.

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