Hi-Rez Drops AI Voice Contract Clause Amid Protest From Voice Actors On Social Media

Several voice actors expressed their displeasure with a new contract rider released by Hi-Rez which addresses using AI to replicate actor voices for their games. Hi-Rez is the parent company behind games like SMITE and Paladins.

We'll start with the contract rider as posted on the site formerly known as Twitter by Hi-Rez President Stewart Chisam. In the rider, it does (did) specifically state that "Client (Hi-Rez) agrees not to use, or sublicense, the Performance to simulate Talent's voice or likeness or to create any synthesized or "digital double" voice of likeness of Talent". It does go on to list some circumstances, such as death or a sudden inability to perform, in which the Client can use AI to simulate the actor's voice in order to complete a project, or with permission from and payment to the actor's estate to create new voice lines in the future.

Here's the entire Rider we've approved for all future contracts. pic.twitter.com/9EWZxP9zDR

— Stewart Chisam (@schisam) August 17, 2023

Of course, AI in the world of acting is a hot topic and touchy subject at the moment, with actors such as Jennifer Hale and David Hayter weighing against the usage of AI in their profession, and AI playing a large part in the current SAG-AFTRA strike.

Although the initial outrage from some voice actors who went public against Hi-Rez seemed to believe the contract allowed for the uncontrolled recreation of voices, the rider itself does not read like that. The concern then turned to the vagueness of the "unable to perform at any foreseeable time" portion of the rider, and what that could be interpreted as. Some are concerned that simply having a scheduling conflict or the flu could allow for AI recreation of their voice.

For their part, Hi-Rez has now agreed to drop that portion of the contract totally, with President Stewart Chisam telling GamesRadar, they would certainly be willing to work with voice actors that want to opt out of the rider totally. "I don't want to have a lot of different versions of the Rider floating out there as that becomes difficult to keep track of who has what, so I've asked the lawyers to remove that part. When I was asked to review it, it seemed reasonable and I approved it, but it's not really a clause I give a shit about."

In fact, Hi-Rez has already released an updated rider without the AI clause that caused concern in it.

Here is updated rider. pic.twitter.com/OCPRFttJrD

— Stewart Chisam (@schisam) August 17, 2023

AI in acting and voice acting will continue to be a debate for a long time to come, especially as AI is quickly making leaps and bounds in its capabilities.