SAG-AFTRA Reaches Landmark Agreement with Ethovox, Pioneering AI Voice Company

SAG-AFTRA has entered into a groundbreaking agreement with Ethovox, a leading AI voice company, to safeguard the rights and interests of performers. This landmark deal ensures that actors participating in the creation of Ethovox's foundational voice model provide informed consent and receive fair compensation from the outset, as well as ongoing payments throughout the model's lifespan. Founded by CEO Cissy Jones and CPO Julian Kwasneski, Ethovox has developed a model that will not feature user-facing applications, and the provided voices will remain unidentifiable in generated speech. The agreement, approved by SAG-AFTRA's Corporate/Educational & Non-Broadcast Committee and the National Executive Committee, underscores the union's commitment to protecting performers in the age of AI. According to SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, "Contractual protection is crucial for voice actors' livelihoods in the AI era." The union will continue to recognize and collaborate with AI companies like Ethovox that adhere to its guidelines, prioritizing informed consent and fair compensation. Ethovox, the only AI voice company owned and managed by voice actors, has partnered with SAG-AFTRA to build a foundational voice AI model that prioritizes performers' interests. CEO Cissy Jones emphasized that "AI should be a choice" and that Ethovox will continue to engage with the voice actor community, demonstrating that artists can contribute to ethical AI development while maintaining control over their voice data and receiving fair compensation. This agreement follows SAG-AFTRA's recent efforts to secure critical AI protections for its members, including a video game strike and a landmark AI protection deal with Lightspeed LA.