Apple App Store Injunction Largely Upheld as Appeals Court Rules on Epic Games Case 
China Adds Domestic AI Chips to Government Procurement List as U.S. Considers Easing Nvidia Export Curbs 
Trello Outage Disrupts Users as Access Issues Hit Atlassian’s Work Management Platform 
Fortescue Expands Copper Portfolio With Full Takeover of Alta Copper 
Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools Raises U.S. National Security Concerns 
SUPERFORTUNE Launches AI-Powered Mobile App, Expanding Beyond Web3 Into $392 Billion Metaphysics Market 
Nomura Expands Alternative Assets Strategy With Focus on Private Debt Acquisitions 
United Airlines Tokyo-Bound Flight Returns to Dulles After Engine Failure 
iRobot Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Amid Rising Competition and Tariff Pressures 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
SpaceX Begins IPO Preparations as Wall Street Banks Line Up for Advisory Roles 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
US Charges Two Men in Alleged Nvidia Chip Smuggling Scheme to China 
Air Force One Delivery Delayed to 2028 as Boeing Faces Rising Costs 
SpaceX Insider Share Sale Values Company Near $800 Billion Amid IPO Speculation 
U.S. Greenlights Nvidia H200 Chip Exports to China With 25% Fee 
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has recently announced a groundbreaking agreement with Replica Studios, an artificial intelligence (AI) voice technology company.
This landmark deal, unveiled on Jan. 9th, has paved the way for using AI voices in video games, reshaping the interactive media landscape.
Licensing Voices for AAA Video Games and Interactive Projects
Under this momentous agreement, Replica Studios can create and license digital replicas of actors protected by SAG-AFTRA. These licensed voices can be utilized in AAA video games and other interactive media projects throughout the production process, from pre-production to final release.
Guaranteeing Fairness and Consent for Performers
Cointelegraph noted that apart from ensuring the minimum terms and conditions, the agreement provides performers with the crucial right to consent and negotiate with the AI company. Furthermore, they hold the power to make decisions about the continued use of their voices in new projects, adds Silicon Republic.
SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, emphasizes that the union has accomplished its goals regarding fully informed consent and fair compensation for using their members' voices and performances.
However, not all members of the acting community are pleased with this announcement. Some actors argue that they prefer to act on record rather than give away samples of their voices. Others have raised concerns about the lack of details in the SAG-AFTRA press release and the absence of a voting process during the deal confirmation.
This is not the first time SAG-AFTRA has ventured into agreements concerning AI. In November 2023, the union reached a significant deal with major film studios regarding creating and using "digital replicas" of performers.
Despite an 86% confirmation vote within SAG-AFTRA, the agreement has also sparked mixed reactions within the acting community. Similarly, the Writer's Guild of America ended its strike in September 2023 with a deal that limits studio leverage to force screenwriters into using AI.
Photo: SAG-AFTRA Press Center
