Stay up to date with LAist. If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily morning newsletter, How To LA. Every weekday, you'll receive fresh, community-driven stories that keep you informed about our independent local news. Sign Up On Friday, video game performers, who bring characters like monsters, superheroes, zombies, and villains to life in beloved video games, took on a new role as striking workers. Performers from major game companies such as Activision and Warner Bros. ceased work just after midnight. After 18 months of negotiations with a group of video game production companies, the workers expressed dissatisfaction with the current artificial intelligence safeguards being offered. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), their union, stated that they are seeking informed consent for the use of their voices and images with artificial intelligence. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's chief negotiator, mentioned in a statement that video game performers demand "the same fundamental protections as performers in film, television, streaming, and music. " The dispute revolves around artificial intelligence protections. Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers, expressed disappointment with the decision and stated that the union and producers had reached agreements on 24 out of 25 proposals. Cooling added, "Our offer directly addresses SAG-AFTRA's concerns and provides meaningful AI protections, including requiring consent and fair compensation for all performers working under the Interactive Media Agreement. " However, the union disagrees. Sarah Elmaleh, a voice actor who chairs the negotiating committee for the workers, emphasized that video game companies do not consider movement actors in video games as "performers" and, as a result, do not want to grant them AI protections. "These are individuals who are asked to perform actions such as running, walking, slipping, or falling. . .

to ensure that it appears like a soldier falling or a civilian running. They bring creatures and monsters to life, moving around a space, stalking, " Elmaleh explained. "The standard is to make sure that they embody a specific character so that it feels real, believable, and unique. That is clearly performance. " AI protections were also a central issue in last year's historic actors strike, which lasted 118 days. Actors with SAG-AFTRA ultimately secured informed consent for the use of their likeness in the agreement made with Hollywood studios and streamers, although some actors have criticized the deal for not going far enough. "Let me be clear. The current offer on the table is significantly less than what we have achieved in any other contract. Significantly less, " said Zeke Alton, a voice actor and SAG-AFTRA member, during a press conference on Thursday. "It leaves so many gaps that our existence as performers is jeopardized. "