Actors protest “existential crisis” brought on by AI-generated “synthetic” actors

The employment of AI-generated actors might cause an “existential crisis” for the performing industry, according to a July 2023 warning from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

According to Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s head negotiator, artificial intelligence (AI) might be utilized to produce synthetic performers that are identical to actual people.

 This might result in human performers losing their employment and performing becoming of worse caliber.

According to Crabtree-Ireland, “AI is a powerful tool that has the potential to revolutionize the way we create and consume content.” 

But it’s crucial to keep in mind that AI cannot take the place of human skill. 

Artificial actors will never be able to capture the human element that gives powerful performance its force.

The union is urging Hollywood companies to appropriately use AI and to prevent the displacement of real actors by synthetic ones. 

According to Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA is also working to create new guidelines for AI-generated content that will safeguard performers’ rights.

Although it is still in its infancy, artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in the entertainment sector. 

Many well-known initiatives in recent years have employed artificial intelligence to produce synthetic actors. 

The film “The Irishman” employed AI to de-age Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, and the BBC used AI to create a virtual actor for the Doctor Who series.

It’s unknown how using AI will affect the acting industry in the long run. 

The SAG-AFTRA’s warning, however, shows that the organization is worried about the possible effects that AI may have on its members.