California Moves to Protect Performers from AI Exploitation with New Laws

In a significant move to safeguard performers in the age of AI, California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed two bills that limit the use of digital replicas of actors without their consent. The bills, AB 2602 and AB 1836, backed by the SAG-AFTRA union, aim to protect performers from being replaced by artificial intelligence in film and media, marking a key moment in the state’s efforts to regulate AI technology.

AB 2602 ensures that performers cannot be digitally cloned without their knowledge and legal representation. This means that entertainment companies are now barred from slipping contract clauses that allow them to use AI-generated versions of actors in place of live performers, unless those actors fully understand how their digital counterparts will be used. Crucially, it also mandates the involvement of either a lawyer or union representative in those agreements, protecting actors from being blindsided by complex legal language.

Meanwhile, AB 1836 takes things a step further, requiring that entertainment companies get explicit permission from a deceased performer’s family or estate before using their likeness through AI. This prevents studios from exploiting the images of late stars without approval, closing a loophole that previously allowed for artistic works to represent people’s likenesses without needing consent.

Together, these bills represent a significant victory for performers in Hollywood and beyond, as the rapid advancement of AI technology threatens to upend traditional acting careers. The laws ensure that actors maintain control over their digital identities and likenesses, even after death, in an industry increasingly captivated by technological shortcuts.

As AI continues to disrupt various sectors, California’s push to regulate the entertainment industry offers a glimpse of how labor rights and technology might collide in the future. For performers, this legislation may offer a much-needed buffer against the potential dehumanizing forces of AI in showbiz.