In a world where content and communities are moderated with free-to-play business models, using AI to create a video game is a far cry from a movie or TV show.
At this March's Game Developers Conference (GDC), representatives from Meta, Xbox, and SAG-AFTRA will answer the biggest questions about AI in a panel discussion titled “What Companies Need to Know About Deepfakes.” It was made. At this time, we have yet to reach an agreement on an equal AI protection policy with the largest game studios. This umbrella term includes equal recognition across types of performance (e.g., voice recording, motion capture), fair rates of compensation, and in particular the context in which AI is used, the intent of its use, and the actor's ability to create digital replicas. Includes timing for notifying performers about negotiating parts of their performance.
This “stagnation” leaves the coalition poised to launch an attack “within weeks,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator. According to the agreement, the first tiered gaming agreement was announced earlier this year for small and medium-sized gaming companies and includes best practices around AI deepfakes (“digital replicas”) and workplace language. There is.
The GDC panel emphasized that to determine who will be protected from being replaced by AI, we must first determine how AI will be used. Is it for the production process or is it for performance capture? Meta representative Wei Wang defends emerging or “indie” developers, saying that AI can be used in content-rich applications like virtual reality. He said the platform could introduce “lower barriers to entry for creating high-quality experiences.”
AI has historically been used in game development to design the behavior of non-player characters (NPCs) due to the labor-intensive process of designing crowds. But even after launch, the unofficial production stages inherent in games remain out of the studio's hands. That is, modified content created by users, or “MODs.” Xbox/Microsoft representative Jessica Henderson nods to the existence of censorship tools. Might be vulnerable to bullying… AI could actually create content modding solutions. ”
Technology capabilities cannot be considered without discussing the implications of what implementation actually means, Crabtree-Ireland said at the week-long conference. Alongside SAG's Interactive Media Committee Chair Sarah Elmaleh, Crabtree-Ireland will connect with indie developers (including students) who are co-parties to a recent successful agreement, which will allow GDC participants to spend a whopping 3 minutes 1 of the countries, which is the highest proportion in the world. According to GDC's annual State of the Industry report, it falls into one category.
In some ways, the push for an AI protection agreement reflects the biggest concerns of employees felt at the GDC. In addition to layoffs from major studio companies, the same 2024 participant survey also revealed questions developers had about AI in the workplace.
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Just as developers adjust to AI tools as part of their programming skills, Elmaleh discussed whether performers consider digital replicas as part of their portfolio.
“Yes, you could start to have [digital replicas] As a new source of income. But the big “what if” is whether those protections are in place. ” says Elmaleh. “Everyone in the community has to stand up together and say this is the baseline. Everything above is opportunity and everything below is exploitation.”
Elmaleh, who teaches acting workshops at the University of Southern California, continues to speak directly to students and emerging talent, saying that now more than ever, actors are realizing that building a career in the field means building a business. He said you need to understand and treat yourself as a businessman.
As for new developers, Elmaleh himself began his career as an actor/director by voicing mods for his favorite games before joining well-known series such as Final Fantasy, Halo Infinite, and Fortnite. did. She says the spirit of collaboration is extremely important and irreplaceable, regardless of the budget.
“I think it's probably convenient to sit in front of a machine and get something out of it,” Elmaleh said. “It's not impossible to actually collaborate with performers at any budget level.”
