Entertainment Workers Are Safe From AI, Make Latest Deal With Top Record Label

JAKARTA - Entertainment industry workers have reached an initial agreement with leading record labels such as Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment to ensure a higher minimum wage and protection against the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

According to a statement on the website of the Hollywood Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) Voice Recording Agreements' span a period from 2021 to 2026 and have received unanimous approval from the SAG-AFTRA executive committee, representing around 160,000 actors and media personnel.

Saat industri musik menghadapi tantangan lagu-lagu yang diproduksi oleh AI generatif, yang memungkinkan pengguna internet dengan mudah mereplik suara para artis, bahkan sering kali sekali tanpa izin dari para artis tersebut, maka kesepakatan yang diusulkan dengan label rekam menyaratkan persetujuan dan kompensasi sebelum merilis lagu-lagu yang menampilkan replica digital suara para artis.

According to SAG-AFTRA, the term "artisan," "singer," and "certificate" exclusively refer to humans in this agreement. The agreement also includes improvements in health and pension benefits, along with improvements in the share of streaming revenues that are subject to contributions.

The deal comes as AI technology has raised great concerns in the entertainment sector, dominating discussions between SAG-AFTRA and major studios in 2023. After months of strike, negotiations ended in November with a contract agreement.

President Director of the national executive and negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, believes that the essence of Music must always stem from authentic human expressions and life experiences.

"This agreement ensures that our members are protected. Although technology can improve creative processes, the essence of music must always be rooted in authentic human expression and experience," the Crabtree-Ireland said.

In January, SAG-AFTRA reached another deal with Replica Studios on AI voice technology companies about the use of AI votes in video games. This deal will provide the right to grant approval and negotiate with AI companies, as well as the power to opt out of their voice "continuous use" in "new projects."

AI has great potential in films, especially in virtual film creation. It offers a very similar set to life and cost efficiency. With greater creative flexibility and lower production costs, this technology has the potential to completely change the film creation process. Despite its transformational power, the AI protection agreement aims to ensure fair rewards for industry contributors.