Synthetic AI actors are on the rise. Here’s how real performers are fighting back

Synthetic AI actors and voice clones are becoming increasingly realistic, reshaping the entertainment industry. For many human performers, especially voice actors, this shift is happening quickly and without enough safeguards.

With AI now able to mimic voices with high accuracy, concerns over consent are growing. Voice actors worry about their voices being replicated without permission. In 2024, Scarlett Johansson publicly challenged OpenAI over the use of a voice she claimed sounded like hers, highlighting the lack of clear boundaries.

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland of SAG-AFTRA stresses that the issue is not with the technology itself but with how it is used. Performers should have the right to decide if and how their image, voice or likeness is used in AI systems, and be compensated fairly for it.

The threat goes beyond cloning. Entirely synthetic actors, created without reference to any real person, could replace human performers altogether. SAG-AFTRA is pushing for economic parity between human and AI performers through collective bargaining.

SAG-AFTRA has struck agreements with record labels and ad firms requiring them to pay into a fund when synthetic performers are used. This helps ensure human talent is not left behind as AI adoption grows.

While AI may bring benefits, it also presents risks that cannot be fully eliminated. Education and awareness are key to helping performers understand their rights in this evolving landscape. From background actors to celebrities, everyone is affected.

Watch the video to see how actors are navigating the growing role of AI in entertainment.