Video game actors hit the picket lines Thursday outside of Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank for the first time since calling a strike against major gaming companies over artificial intelligence.
This march marks the first large-scale labor action since last year’s writers and screen actors strikes. Members of the Writers Guild of America and other unions showed up to march in support of the voice actors.
KNX News’ Karen Adams spoke to one voiceover actor who said AI has impacted their job.
“I have to do computer voices and all kinds of voices that even sound like AI and they've already started to replace me,” they said.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the chief negotiator for SAG-AFTRA, said AI is threatening the livelihoods of these workers.
“Their careers could just go away because of AI, and that's not something that we want to happen,” Crabtree-Ireland said. “There is real creativity, real art, and real talent in what our members do that needs to be respected.”
He explained this is the same conclusion that studios, streamers, and record labels have come to.
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“We have fair deals with all of them, respecting and protecting our performers,” Crabtree-Ireland said. “So why can't the video game companies do the same thing?”
This strike comes after 18 months of failed talks with gaming companies including Activision, Warner Bros., and Walt Disney.
Crabtree-Ireland said no new talks are scheduled.
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