UK actors vote to refuse to be digitally scanned in pushback against AI (www.theguardian.com)

Actors in the UK have overwhelmingly voted to refuse digital scanning to protect their likeness from being used by artificial intelligence without consent, with 99% of members from the Equity union supporting the move. This landmark decision underscores growing worries about performers' rights as AI technology increasingly infiltrates the creative industry. General Secretary Paul Fleming highlighted that this vote reflects a readiness among artists to engage in industrial action if their concerns aren't addressed, particularly given that a significant portion of film and TV production relies on union agreements involving a vast number of union members. The vote follows rising apprehensions, especially after the introduction of the first AI "actor" and months of discussions around performers’ protections. High-profile supporters, including actors Adrian Lester and Hugh Bonneville, have joined the campaign to ensure that consent is integral to any use of an actor’s likeness. The union plans to negotiate new minimum standards regarding pay and working conditions, which may lead to a formal ballot that would provide legal backing for actors against coercion for digital scanning. As the entertainment industry grapples with the implications of AI, this vote signifies a pivotal moment in the ongoing discourse about the ethical use of technology in creative fields.