Hasbro, the parent company behind Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, is reportedly attempting to secure rights to use child actors' voices with artificial intelligence. This claim stems from an open letter by the Agents of Young Performers Association and a report from Deadline, which connects the situation to the children's franchise Peppa Pig.
The open letter states that a "major studio who owns the IP for an international children’s franchise producing a long running animated television series has offered contracts to child voice actors insisting that they agree to the use of AI thus allowing them to use the child’s voice in all commercial assets within their franchise." The letter further notes that the refusal to remove this clause, coupled with a "take it or leave it" attitude, has prompted the association to bring the matter to the wider industry's attention. Over 1,000 signatures have reportedly confirmed the letter's contents.
This development adds to a series of controversies surrounding Hasbro in recent years. Past incidents include employing Pinkertons against individuals who received Magic: The Gathering cards early, laying off 1,100 employees (some involved in the Baldur's Gate 3 deal), engaging in anti-union activities, and having a CEO described as "AI-obsessed." The company also faced criticism for its Virtual Tabletop Sigil and canceled a game from the director of Jedi: Fallen Order.
While Hasbro did not provide specific comments on the accusations to Deadline, the company issued a general statement: "The protection of child performers is core to who Hasbro is, it’s part of our DNA. As industry standards around AI continue to evolve, we are committed to engaging with this issue in a responsible and transparent manner."
The Agents of Young Performers Association argues that any contract encouraging the use of a child's voice by AI raises significant issues of consent. They express concern that children, who require parental consent for such agreements, could be drawn into contracts allowing their voices to be replicated through AI technology, suggesting there is no truly "responsible or transparent manner" to approach such arrangements.
This situation has broader implications for the gaming industry, particularly for Hasbro's future video game projects. Voice actors have been actively addressing concerns related to AI since the technology's introduction, leading to substantial industry strikes to negotiate fair contracts. The current situation involving child actors highlights the complexities and ethical considerations surrounding AI in entertainment, especially when minors are involved.