SAG-AFTRA reaches agreement on AI protection with Digital Replica Company Ethovox

As part of its efforts to build industry standards around artificial intelligence protection for actors, SAG-AFTRA on Monday announced a deal with AI company Ethovox as it creates a “fundamental voting model” that serves as the basis for digital replicas.

As part of the contract with Ethovox, founded by video game voice actor Cissy Jones, SAG-AFTRA members who lend their voices to the model’s development will receive both session fees and ongoing revenue sharing over the life of the fundamental model.

Additionally, no actor’s voice will be recognisably replicated by the model, as volumes of voice samples are needed to build a foundation.

The Ethovox model will not be user-facing and the voices in the model will not be identifiable in the generated speech.

“Ethovox is the only voice AI company owned and operated by voice actors, and we are pleased to partner with SAG-AFTRA to build a foundational voice AI model that prioritizes the interests of voice actors,” Jones said in a statement. “AI should be a choice. That’s why we reached out to the voice acting community during this process. Ethovox will continue to do this as we demonstrate that artists can and should be compensated for their contributions to ethical AI development, while maintaining consent and control over their voting data.”

The Ethovox deal joins SAG-AFTRA’s with other AI companies including Narrativ, which allows members to license its digital voice replica for use in audio advertising, and video game voice company Replica Studios.

While the deals have met with some resistance from SAG-AFTRA members who see any use of AI as a threat to their livelihoods, National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland has emphasized the importance of building a standard for ethical AI use to to combat exploitation of AI. performances and likenesses of actors without their consent or compensation.

“What will secure the livelihoods of voice actors in the AI ​​era is more contractual protections, not less,” Crabtree-Ireland said. “That’s why SAG-AFTRA will continue to recognize AI companies, like Ethovox, that agree with our union’s AI guidelines. Not everyone will want to work with an AI company, and that’s understandable. But for those planning to take advantage of the opportunities AI offers, it is important that agreements require companies to obtain informed consent and provide fair compensation. Without informed consent and fair compensation, this new era will be a ‘Wild West’ of AI abuse and exploitation.”

Meanwhile, SAG-AFTRA is planning a new round of negotiations with video game companies that signed the Interactive Media Agreement, trying to reach an agreement after last July’s strike on what the union says are inadequate proposed AI protections.

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