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yesterday

SAG-AFTRA Challenges AI Use in Fortnite's Darth Vader Voice

The union alleges Epic Games bypassed collective bargaining by replacing human performers with AI-generated voices, filing a formal complaint with the NLRB.

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Emperor Palpatine fires force lightning from his fingertips in Fortnite while a bunch of Fortnite guys look on.
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Overview

  • SAG-AFTRA filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Epic Games subsidiary Llama Productions, claiming the use of AI to replicate Darth Vader's voice violated union labor agreements.
  • The AI-powered Darth Vader feature, introduced in Fortnite on May 16, uses conversational AI trained on James Earl Jones's voice, with permission from his estate.
  • The union contends that replacing voice actors with AI without union notification or negotiation undermines collective bargaining rights and sets a concerning industry precedent.
  • Epic Games implemented rapid fixes after players manipulated the AI Vader to produce offensive language, adding parental controls and safety filters to the feature.
  • This dispute unfolds during SAG-AFTRA’s ongoing strike over AI protections in the gaming industry, which began in July 2024, highlighting broader concerns about AI's impact on performer rights.