SAG-AFTRA ratifies – Television and movie actors overwhelmingly ratified a four-year contract with studios and streaming services, with the union saying it builds protections against synthetic performers created by artificial intelligence—an effort aimed at avoiding a repeat of th
By Thursday afternoon, television and movie actors were voting on a question that has moved from Hollywood backlots to labor negotiations: how much of performers’ work can be replaced—or copied—by artificial intelligence.
The Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists ratified a four-year contract with studios and streaming services after a month of negotiations that union leaders described as focused on protections against synthetic actors created by artificial intelligence. The vote was widely expected, and a walkout never seemed to be in the cards during drama-free negotiations. Still. the outcome matters because it prevents any repeat of the 2023 actor and writer strikes that seriously shook the entertainment industry.
More than 90% of votes from members approved the agreement, with about 19% of eligible voters casting ballots. The contract runs for four years instead of the usual three. an extra layer of labor stability that mirrors a parallel move by the Writers Guild of America. whose members approved their own contract on April 24.
SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin said in a statement that the contract “delivers meaningful gains in compensation. strengthens protections around artificial intelligence and digital identity. reinforces the long-term security of members’ benefit plans and recognizes the realities of how performers work today.”.
Under the contract, AI performers must bring “significant additional value” over a live actor or a digital capture of them for producers to use them. Union leaders say provisions like this will keep the use of AI actors minimal.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. which negotiates for a coalition of Hollywood’s major studios. streamers. and production companies. congratulated the union’s ratification. In its statement. it said SAG-AFTRA’s leadership brought a genuine commitment to partnership. and that together with the WGA agreement. the deals show what is possible when the industry works toward practical solutions.
While actors secured their deal, contract talks elsewhere are still moving forward. AMPTP negotiators have been in discussions with the Directors Guild of America since May 11. Those talks are the first under new DGA president Christopher Nolan. and the Directors Guild of America contract is set to expire June 30.
For now, the message from Thursday’s vote was clear: the industry is continuing to bargain in real time over technology that can generate performers—and over the safeguards that unions want in writing.
SAG-AFTRA actor union AI protections artificial intelligence AMPTP studios streaming services contract ratification digital identity Screen Actors Guild Writers Guild of America
So basically actors still get replaced but now with paperwork?
I don’t get why it’s 4 years instead of 3. Like that somehow makes AI less evil?? Also 90% sounds high but 19% voted, so who even knows.
Wait, Sean Astin said protections… but isn’t he also in stuff that uses AI voices sometimes? Like I feel like they’ll just find a loophole and call it “significant additional value” or whatever.
good for them I guess, but “digital identity” is kinda scary to me. If they can copy you once, they can copy you forever. I heard streaming services are gonna use more synthetic performers anyway so this is probably just to keep it slow until next contract.