The Actors' Union has announced a contract to license AI voice acting in video games

A new agreement that establishes guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence voices in video games was revealed on Tuesday by SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents over 150,000 actors in movies and television shows.

A news release states that the agreement with Replica Studios, an AI voice technology business, creates safeguards for the licensing of digitally imitated voices. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the announcement was made.

In addition to allowing artists to refuse the continued use of their voices in future projects, the agreement establishes minimum terms and conditions and mandates that the corporation get approval before using copied voices. Replica would be able to license AI voices for use in video game development and other media ventures. The company claims to be working to create "the world's greatest library of AI-powered voice actors."

Generative AI has been a hot topic in many industries, including entertainment and other creative fields, since it became widely available in 2022.

December saw the ratification of SAG-AFTRA's new contract with the major film and TV studios, which mandates that producers get the actors' permission and compensate them before using AI to recreate their likenesses.