Actors' union complains about Epic Games cloning Darth Vader

The union representing American actors has complained about Llama Production, which is owned by Epic Games, over the use of generative AI in a new character for Fortnite.

"Within the past six months, the Employer, by its agents and representatives, failed and refused to bargain in good faith with the union by making unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, without providing notice to the union or the opportunity to bargain, by utilizing AI-generated voices to replace bargaining unit work on the Interactive Program Fortnite," the filing [PDF] with the National Labor Relations Board reads.

Last week Darth Vader was introduced to the game as a non-player character. The late James Earl Jones, who made the voice for Vader so iconic, signed over the rights to his Star Wars lines to Lucasfilm for future projects in 2022 and it partnered with a Ukrainian AI lab to produce the vocals ...