Industrial action on agenda as actors balloted by Equity over AI scanning concerns

The actors' union is canvassing 7,000 members working in film and TV over artificial intelligence protections.

Luvvies should be embracing AI not trying to emulate King Canute, as FNN suggested in a previous post on 'Aictors'.

While tech companies get away with stealing artists' likeness or work, and the government and decision makers fret over whether to act, unions including Equity are at the forefront of the fight to ensure working people are protected from artificial intelligence misuse," Equity general secretary Paul W Fleming said in a statement.

"If bosses can't ensure someone's likeness and work won't be used without their consent, why should performers consent to be digitally scanned in the first place?"

Mr Fleming said the ballot would give members the opportunity to "send a clear message to the industry: that it is a basic right of performers to have autonomy over their own personhood and identity".

Quite right, which is why what Equity should be doing is promoting the concept of Aictors who license their digital likenesses and previous work in exchange for residuals from future AI-generated content that includes them as Aictors.

But that seems to be far too sophisticated a concept for the Equity Union to consider - they prefer to stand and wait to drown in the rising tide of AI.