California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two new bills into law on Tuesday aimed at protecting actors and performers from the unauthorized use of their digital replicas in audio and visual productions involving artificial intelligence (AI).
While AI's role in the entertainment industry dates back several decades, recent advances in generative AI — with robots even creating music as digital pop stars — have sparked significant debate and concern. Performers fear that AI will make theft of their likenesses commonplace, and many experts have raised legal and ethical questions surrounding its use.
Details of the Legislation
One of the new laws "requires contracts to specify the use of AI-generated digital replicas of a performer's voice or likeness, and the performer must be professionally represented in negotiating the contract," according to a statement from Newsom's office.
The second bill "prohibits the commercial use of digital replicas of deceased performers in films, TV shows, video games, audiobooks, sound recordings, and more, without obtaining consent from those performers' estates," the statement added.
Broader Concerns Around AI
Beyond the entertainment sector, the rise of AI has led to a host of concerns, including fears that it could be used to undermine democratic processes, facilitate fraud, or cause job losses.
While Democratic US President Joe Biden's administration has called for AI regulation, a polarized US Congress — with Republicans controlling the House of Representatives and Democrats controlling the Senate — has struggled to make significant progress in passing effective legislation.
Earlier this year, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a similar bill into law to protect artists, including musicians, from unauthorized use by AI.
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