The end of human voiceovers? Actors fear AI could dent job prospects

The rise of Artificial Intelligence has become a major concern of movie industry workers in the United States and it is likely to feature here when talks between representatives of film producers and actors get under way about a new pay deal.

Actors fear that as the ability of filmmakers to manipulate captured images continues to improve they will find themselves put out of work by their own likenesses.

Already, they say, some have been offered contracts that provide for perhaps a day’s work, during which they are recorded, and contain provisions allowing for their image to be used in whatever is then required.

“Even without AI, we’ve signed contracts that give producers the right to use clips in other programmes,” says Irish Equity president Gerry O’Brien.

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It is also feared that areas of the business such as voiceover work, a key source of income for many actors, could be decimated.

“AI is a much bigger thing and the technology is going to be a problem.

“The suggestion is it’s only the background people who will be affected. But no, it won’t. There is the potential for an actor to go in and instead of being on a series right through, they do one day and then their image is just constantly used. It’s a very real threat.”

Screen Producers Ireland chief executive Susan Kirby acknowledges that the technology is an issue for all sides but suggests that developments outside of Ireland will do much to shape the landscape here.

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“As we can see from the current Sag [US trade union] strikes this is a major topic for industry and we would expect that whatever is agreed with Sag will ultimately become custom and practise in the UK and Ireland,” she says.

“While the recent increase in the availability of generative AI programmes has increased the number of people using the technology for the first time, we are also aware that there are new EU regulations currently being developed to deal with this technology’s intended and unintended consequences. We will also be led by those regulations and recommendations from leading experts to inform our position in any negotiation or agreement,” she says.