Video gamers are on strike because of artificial intelligence

Major video game makers – such as Activision, Warner Bros and Walt Disney – are facing a strike by Hollywood players over the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

It follows a year and a half of negotiations over a new contract between the companies and the union that represents more than 2,500 video game players.

The two sides say they have agreed on a few key issues, such as wages and workplace safety, but safeguards related to the use of AI technology remain a major hurdle.

Industrial action has been called by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Sag-Aftra), which last year crippled Hollywood with a strike by film and television actors.

Gamers are concerned about game studios using artificial AI to reproduce their voices and physical appearance to animate video game characters without giving them proper compensation.

“Although agreements have been reached on many issues… employers refuse to specify, in clear and binding language, that they will protect all artists covered by this contract in their AI language,” Sag-Aftra said in a statement.

“We will not accept a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members,” it added.

But video game studios have said they have already made enough concessions to the union's demands.

“We are disappointed that the union chose to walk away as we were so close to an agreement,” said Audrey Cooling, a spokeswoman for the 10 video game producers negotiating with Sag-Aftra.

“Our proposal directly responds to Sag-Aftra's concerns and extends reasonable AI protections including requiring consent and fair compensation to all actors working under [Interactive Media Agreement],” he added.

The Interactive Media Agreement covers artists who provide voice services and camera work used to create video game characters.

The last such agreement, which did not provide for AI protection, was due to expire in November 2022 but has been extended every month while negotiations continue.

Last year, US TV and film actors win $1bn (£790m) in new pay and benefitsand safeguards against the use of AI, following a strike organized by Sag-Aftra.

The 118-day lockout was the longest in the union's 90-year history.

Combined with a separate writers' strike, the actions have severely disrupted film and TV production and cost the California economy more than $6.5bn, according to the entertainment industry's publication deadline.