It says "we celebrate the right of our members and their estates to control the use of their digital replicas," but the actions of SAG-AFTRA suggest otherwise, as the performance artist union has filed a complaint with the US National Labor Relations Board over the recent news that Fortnite now features Darth Vader's voice recreated by AI. The union objects, despite this being something James Earl Jones approved of before he died. The complaint, filed against Epic subsidiary Llama, suggests that in making this arrangement with the Jones estate, the company is altering the deal:
Within the past six months, the Employer, by its agents and representatives, failed and refused to bargain in good faith with the union by making unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, without providing notice to the union or the opportunity to bargain, by utilizing AI-generated voices to replace bargaining unit work on the Interactive Program Fortnite.
Timmeh wrote on May 20, 2025, 12:20:Squirmer wrote on May 20, 2025, 00:17:
If James Earl Jones signed over the rights to his voice in the full knowledge it would be become the butt of jokes in some warped AI version of Darth Vader in a shitty videogame, that's one thing. But I have a feeling he had actual films and TV in mind.
1. Fortnite is not a "shitty" video game.
2. JEJ had a sense of humor, i know its hard to believe. I think he would get a kick out of Darth Vader talking smack to video gamers.
3. He nor Dath Vader in this game not even remotely "the butt of jokes". He walks around and roasts the living shit out of players as they are playing.
Squirmer wrote on May 20, 2025, 00:17:
If James Earl Jones signed over the rights to his voice in the full knowledge it would be become the butt of jokes in some warped AI version of Darth Vader in a shitty videogame, that's one thing. But I have a feeling he had actual films and TV in mind.
NKD wrote on May 19, 2025, 23:06:Right. Or he will alter the deal.
I make it a point to never object to Darth Vader, AI or otherwise. Historically it isn't a smart choice.
jdreyer wrote on May 20, 2025, 07:14:I agree, but good luck on seeing anything approaching a liveable UBI in our lifetimes. We and the next 3-4 generations will work in the factories, toil in the mines, die in the wars, or provide 'services' to the trillionaires.MoreLuckThanSkill wrote on May 20, 2025, 06:42:That's why we invented UBI. So we could all eat while AI and robots do all the work.
Another day, another step closer to a fatal level of unemployment for the human race.
"But it's only voice actors!" Good luck in the wasteland, people.
MoreLuckThanSkill wrote on May 20, 2025, 06:42:That's why we invented UBI. So we could all eat while AI and robots do all the work.
Another day, another step closer to a fatal level of unemployment for the human race.
"But it's only voice actors!" Good luck in the wasteland, people.
Squirmer wrote on May 20, 2025, 00:17:
If James Earl Jones signed over the rights to his voice in the full knowledge it would be become the butt of jokes in some warped AI version of Darth Vader in a shitty videogame, that's one thing. But I have a feeling he had actual films and TV in mind.