Could movie studios use AI to replicate an actor’s image and use it forever?

AI has made its way into nearly all of our favorite art forms including music, visual art, and now possibly even films. According to SAG-AFTRA, AI makes it possible for background performers' images and likenesses to be used forever.

The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has been making headlines because of its national board's unanimous decision to go on strike after failing to agree on a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). 

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In a press conference on Friday announcing the strike, SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland revealed a proposal by AMPTP that would have background performers scanned by AI, get one day's pay, and have their image and likenesses owned by their company and used in perpetuity. 

“They proposed that our background performers should be able to be scanned, get paid for one day's pay, and their companies should own that scan, their image, their likeness, and for people to use it for the rest of eternity in any project they want with no consent and no compensation,” said Crabtree-Ireland.