Jennifer Hale Addresses AI Concerns Amid SAG-AFTRA Strike: Technology Threatens Video Game Voice Actor Livelihoods

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has sparked significant conversation and debate within the creative industries, particularly in the realm of video game development.

With AI integration becoming increasingly common, discussions around ethics and the future of creative jobs are intensifying, especially as leading video game publishers—including Nintendo, EA, Disney, and Warner Bros—seek new avenues for efficiency.

At the heart of this conversation stands Jennifer Hale, a renowned voice actor whose work in franchises like Bayonetta, Metroid, and Metal Gear Solid has defined some of gaming’s most beloved characters. In a recent Variety interview, highlighted by PC Gamer, Hale addressed the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike against several major video game publishers.

The strike, which began on July 26, 2024, has made AI a central negotiating focus, particularly around publisher transparency and the protection of performers’ voices and likenesses. "AI is inevitably impacting all facets of our industry," Hale commented.

"It’s a tool, much like a hammer—capable of constructing, but also potentially destructive." She emphasized the necessity for proper safeguards, referencing the National Association of Voice Actors' (NAVA) advocacy before Congress.

Specifically, Hale pointed to proposed legislation such as the 'NO FAKES Act,' which is designed to defend performers by ensuring their voices and likenesses are protected from unauthorized generative AI use. Highlighting the gap between industry profits and performer compensation, Hale recounted her experience voicing Naomi Hunter in the original Metal Gear Solid, for which she earned $1,200 while the title ultimately grossed approximately $170 million worldwide.

"When technology is leveraged in a manner that diminishes our ability to make a living, it directly jeopardizes our well-being," Hale remarked, stressing the imbalance between creative contributors and the profits enjoyed by publishers and shareholders. These concerns aren’t isolated.

The 2022 release of Bayonetta 3 for the Nintendo Switch, developed by PlatinumGames, brought similar issues to light when Hale replaced original series voice actor Hellena Taylor.

Taylor had called for a boycott over a pay dispute, further underscoring persistent questions over fair compensation in the gaming industry.

While Hale refrained from discussing the specifics due to contractual non-disclosure agreements, she reaffirmed her commitment to advocating for actors’ rights and equitable pay. With Nintendo’s ongoing success in both hardware and software, and the broader industry's embrace of AI technologies, the topics Hale raises resonate across development studios and the global creative workforce.

As the gaming industry awaits further updates on SAG-AFTRA’s negotiations, Hale’s call for fairness and transparency serves as a powerful reminder of the human voices behind digital entertainment.

The role of AI in gaming remains a critical issue, one that will shape the future of Nintendo Switch titles and the broader video game landscape.

Nintendo EA Warner Bros AI Jennifer Hale Disney Metal Gear Solid Bayonetta 3 SAG-AFTRA NO FAKES Act Variety PC Gamer National Association of Voice Actors Naomi Hunter Samus Aran Commander Shepard