In a move to safeguard the rights of actors and performers, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two groundbreaking bills into law on Tuesday. These measures aim to protect entertainers from the unauthorized use of their digital replicas in audio and visual productions created with artificial intelligence (AI).
The entertainment industry has witnessed the presence of AI for decades, but recent advancements in generative AI have sparked a divisive debate. With AI-generated music and digital pop stars becoming a reality, performers fear that the theft of their likenesses will become increasingly common. Many experts have also raised legal and ethical concerns regarding the use of AI in the industry.
One of the bills signed by Governor Newsom requires contracts to specify the use of AI-generated digital replicas of a performer’s voice or likeness. Additionally, the performer must be professionally represented in negotiating the contract terms. The second bill prohibits the commercial use of deceased performers’ digital replicas in various media, including films, TV shows, video games, audiobooks, and sound recordings, without first obtaining consent from the performers’ estates.
The rise of AI has fueled a host of other concerns, such as the potential for disrupting the democratic process, exacerbating fraud, and leading to job losses. The Biden administration has urged lawmakers to regulate AI, but the polarized U.S. Congress, with Republicans controlling the House of Representatives and Democrats controlling the Senate, has made little progress in passing effective regulations.
In March, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a similar bill aimed at protecting artists, including musicians, from unauthorized use by artificial intelligence.
As the entertainment industry continues to evolve with the integration of AI technologies, these new laws in California serve as a crucial step in safeguarding the rights and interests of performers. The measures underscore the need for a balanced approach that fosters innovation while ensuring the protection of artists’ intellectual property and creative control.