More money, more protection from AI: US voice actors agree to new contract

US voice actors in the SAG-AFTRA union (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) have agreed to a new contract. Video game voice actors in the USA will not only receive more money but also additional protection for their voices against AI abuse. The voice actors had previously been on strike for eleven months.

According to a statement from the US union, the members ratified the contract presented a month ago with 95 percent of the votes. “This agreement represents important progress in protecting against artificial intelligence,” writes SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher in a statement. “My sincere respect goes out to the entire video game creator community and their allies for their solidarity during the strike.”

SAG-AFTRA represents, among others, voice actors who lend their voices to video game characters. After members of the US union went on strike in the film industry in 2023, the strike was extended to the video game industry. The union's main demands were better pay and a say in AI voices.

Remuneration increased by 15 percent

The remuneration of US voice actors is now set to increase by 15 percent before further increases of 3 percent each in November 2025, November 2026, and November 2027. The new contract (PDF) also contains clauses to protect against AI misuse. For example, companies must obtain the consent of speakers before generating AI texts based on their votes.

An agreement reached last year between SAG-AFTRA and the tech company Replica Studios shows what such contracts could look like. Under the agreement, voice actors can license their voices to Replica so that an AI version can be used in video games, for example. The agreement stipulates a minimum remuneration for the assignment of AI voting rights, which requires the consent of the voice actors. In addition, voice actors will have the option to withdraw their consent for the use of their voices in future works.

(dahe)