SAG-AFTRA signs interim agreement with 80 games to ensure AI protections

• In July SAG-AFTRA announced a strike against major game studios with concerns around generative AI
• More studios are now signing agreements to hire talent during the strikes and securing AI protections for them

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SAG-AFTRA has penned an interim agreement with 80 games to ensure that protections against the misuse of AI are both fair and feasible for the industry.

The union has been on strike against major game developers since July, but interim agreements offer members employment during the strike. 

The strike began on Friday, July 26th 2024 after 18 months of failed negotiations, with employers rejecting AI protections and offering “loophole-filled” counter proposals.

Recently, Lightspeed L.A. agreed to produce games, including Last Sentinel, under the SAG-AFTRA interim interactive media agreement.

Game developers speak out 

“Little Bat Games is proud to work with SAG-AFTRA in ensuring that top-tier voice talent is appropriately compensated and protected,” the game company said in a statement. 

“As a small studio working on a game about psychology, we always advocate protecting human interests and appreciate SAG-AFTRA’s help to keep the industry accountable.”

Rosewater game developer Francisco Gonzalez stated: “I support SAG-AFTRA actors during this strike and hope that A.I. protections are secured.” 

SAG-AFTRA interactive media agreement negotiating committee chair Sarah Elmaleh commented: “This labour action is about creating work with sufficient A.I. protections. The sheer volume of companies that have signed SAG-AFTRA agreements demonstrates how reasonable those protections are.”