SAG-AFTRA, the actors union with 160,000 members, is on strike since last week due to fears that artificial intelligence (AI) will reduce the demand for employed actors in the future, as advancements in AI and computer-generated imagery (CGI) make it possible to replace human actors with virtual ones. The union is currently in tense negotiations with studios and streaming services about the use of AI and CGI, with disagreement over proposals for protections and compensation for actors whose likeness or voice are used, and concerns about the implications for job security in a rapidly advancing technological landscape. |