What happens when you suddenly find yourself replaced by a machine?
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has called a new strike after negotiations over the use of AI by the industry failed.
It’s not hard to understand the frustration that the development of a technology that puts people out of work causes; similarly, that the people affected would take industrial action. At the same time, it is worth reflecting on the sustainability of such an approach in a world where technology leads the way and points to the winners who learn to use it properly, versus those who just wish it would go away.
A job exists as long as it is in someone’s interest for it to be performed by a person. If that job can be performed effectively and less expensively by a machine, the machine will be used. Is this the case with video game voiceovers? The actors say they want to “keep video games people powered”. Which is fine, but is it realistic?
The video game industry is very interesting. In addition to the big studios we all know, there are many, many small players, whose viability depends on the product they develop, often a single project, being accepted by the public, going viral or, for whatever reason, selling. At the same time, voice-over is a necessary part of most video games, but generally not their main or…
