Mass Effect Actor On Why AI Is "Existential" Issue In Ongoing Strike Negotiations
The "repercussions are vast," Jennifer Hale says.
Video game voice actors in the SAG-AFTRA union have been on strike since July 2024, and one of the chief issues concerns the use of artificial intelligence. Jennifer Hale, who is among the most famous voice actors out there, has commented on the ongoing negotiations and why it's taking so long to resolve. She told Eurogamer, "AI is an existential issue for all of us." Hale is best known for voicing Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect series, along with roles in Baldur's Gate, Metal Gear Solid, Halo, and Overwatch, among many others.
She said the "repercussions are vast" when it comes to AI, and this helps explain why the union and the video game publishers are taking their time to make a deal.
"I've been speaking to people on both sides over the last few months especially and there's a lot to learn on both sides," Hale said. "Some of the decision makers in that room who hold significant power are at the same time quite disconnected from how production happens. There are also many in that room who are deeply connected to the process. So there is such a wide variety of agendas at play."
She went on to say that some people at the negotiating table are receptive to having "productive conversations" about making a deal, while others, whom Hale said represent "large-scale corporate interest," are not willing yet to make a deal out of a concern for "profit protection in the future."
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SAG-AFTRA video game performers also went on strike in 2016, with work stoppage spanning 18 months. Hale was involved in those discussions, too, and she said a key difference between the strike of 2016 and 2024/2025 is that the two sides had productive side bars without attorneys involved.
"My understanding is that in this particular negotiation up until very, very recently, they haven't been allowed to talk to each other. They can each talk to their attorney, and then the attorneys talk to each other. And until you have the people with the vested interest having the conversations, all that's happening is billable hours are going up," she said, referring to attorney fees.
Overall, Hale described the two strike periods as being "vastly different," in part because the world is "much more polarized," with people living in "crazy echo chambers."
"A great negotiation ends up with everybody being a little unhappy. I think it's really important that we all remember, that is the definition of compromise. We're not in there to get our way. We're in there to protect our future," she said.
Back in August 2024, just after the strike began, Hale also spoke about why the fight against AI is so imperative.
"AI is coming for all of us," Hale told Variety. "Because the truth is, AI is just a tool like a hammer. If I take my hammer, I could build you a house. I can also take that same hammer and I can smash your skin and destroy who you are."
Beyond voice acting, many are concerned that the rise in artificial intelligence technologies could negatively impact jobs done by humans. Recently, Microsoft admitted that AI will lead to job losses.
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