The AI Revolution: Keeping Actors' Rights Safe

The world of entertainment is on the cusp of a major transformation, driven by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. As AI-generated performances become increasingly realistic, the need to protect the rights of actors and performers has become a pressing concern. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom has taken a crucial step towards addressing this issue by signing two bills that regulate the use of performances generated by AI. The bills, backed by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), aim to ensure that performers have a say in how their likenesses are used. One of the measures, AB 2602, requires that contracts for AI performances clearly state the intended use, while the other, AB 1836, grants the performer's estate the right to consent to an AI replica for 70 years after the performer's death.The need for these measures is clear. With AI-generated performances becoming more sophisticated, the risk of non-consensual replicas of performers is growing. The No Fakes Act, a similar bill being pushed by SAG-AFTRA in Congress, aims to outlaw non-consensual replicas of anyone, including performers. "We continue to wade through uncharted territory when it comes to how AI and digital media is transforming the entertainment industry," Newsom said in a statement. "But our North Star has always been to protect workers, and this legislation ensures the industry can continue thriving while strengthening protections for workers and how their likeness can or cannot be used. "