By Gavin Boyle
Last week Disney announced a deal with AI video generation tool Sora which would allow over 200 characters to be used by the platform. SAG-AFTRA and the WGA have since responded, sharing their thoughts on the matter.
“We acknowledge Disney’s and OpenAI’s independent outreaches to us on this matter and their assurances that they will meet their contractual and legal obligations to performers and continue to implement systems to ensure ethical and responsible use of this technology,” SAG-AFTRA said in part of its statement. “This comes after months of frank discussions between SAG-AFTRA and OpenAI about the protection of performers. The ongoing dialogue reflects a significant commitment to taking SAG-AFTRA members’ concerns into account in the protective measures applied to image, likeness, voice, performance, and intellectual property rights generally.”
Related: Disney Powers OpenAI with $1 Billion Investment
While the actors’ unions has been at the forefront of the push to keep AI out of Hollywood, its letter suggests that it hesitantly approves of the deal between Disney and OpenAI as long as the companies remain true to their commitment not to infringe on image and likeness of actors who have portrayed these Disney characters in the past.
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At the same time, SAG-AFTRA shared its disdain for other AI companies – particularly Google – who it believes is infringing on its member’s rights. The WGA shared a similar view, however, the writers’ guild was also more hesitant about Disney’s partnership with Sora, claiming that OpenAI is just as guilty of stealing from creatives as Google.
“Companies including OpenAI have stolen vast libraries of works owned by the studios and created by WGA members and Hollywood labor to train their artificial intelligence systems. We have repeatedly called for the studios to take legal action to defend the valuable intellectual property we help to create,” the WGA said in its statement about the deal. “Disney’s cease and desist letter to Google recognizes this and we will continue to pressure the companies to take action. At the same time, Disney’s announcement with OpenAI appears to sanction its theft of our work and cedes the value of what we create to a tech company that has built its business off our backs.”
As those in Hollywood continue to discern how AI will fit into the entertainment industry, Disney appears to be going all in on the technology with plans to introduce AI video generation onto Disney+ in the near future. The company appears to believe that allowing fans to create videos of their favorite Disney characters using the new technology will lead to major growth and is taking all the necessary steps to make this vision a reality.
Read Next: Wait…AI Is Coming to Disney+?
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