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


Nvidia Confirms Major OpenAI Investment Amid AI Funding Race
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says AI Investment Boom Is Just Beginning as NVDA Shares Surge
Jensen Huang Urges Taiwan Suppliers to Boost AI Chip Production Amid Surging Demand
Palantir Stock Jumps After Strong Q4 Earnings Beat and Upbeat 2026 Revenue Forecast
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains
OpenAI Expands Enterprise AI Strategy With Major Hiring Push Ahead of New Business Offering
Australian Scandium Project Backed by Richard Friedland Poised to Support U.S. Critical Minerals Stockpile
Oracle Plans $45–$50 Billion Funding Push in 2026 to Expand Cloud and AI Infrastructure
Nvidia Nears $20 Billion OpenAI Investment as AI Funding Race Intensifies
Anthropic Eyes $350 Billion Valuation as AI Funding and Share Sale Accelerate
Once Upon a Farm Raises Nearly $198 Million in IPO, Valued at Over $724 Million
Baidu Approves $5 Billion Share Buyback and Plans First-Ever Dividend in 2026
Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Bellwether Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Instagram Outage Disrupts Thousands of U.S. Users
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO
TSMC Eyes 3nm Chip Production in Japan with $17 Billion Kumamoto Investment 



