AI Is Sticking Point in SAG-AFTRA Video Game Contract Talks; Strike Appears ’50-50 or More Likely’ Union Chief Says at SXSW
variety.comCynthia Littleton Business Editor Issues around the use of AI in the production process is the big sticking point in SAG-AFTRA’s negotiations with the largest video game companies, SAG-AFTRA chief Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said Saturday during a wide-ranging Q&A at SXSW in Austin, Texas.
Crabtree-Ireland, who is national executive director and chief negotiator of the performers union, said he put the chances of union members striking against key game companies is “50-50, or more likely than that we will go on strike in the next four to six weeks because of our inability to get past these issues,” Crabtree-Ireland told Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company, during a conversation focused on AI.
In September, some 98% of SAG-AFTRA members voted to authorize a strike against major video game producers including Activision (now part of Microsoft), Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Take Two and WB Games.
The union leader acknowledged that there are strong opinions and divisions within SAG-AFTRA’s 160,000-plus members about how to handle the threat to human performers posted by emerging AI and generative AI tools.
Read more on variety.com