KQED's The California Report AI One of the Main Sticking Points in Hollywood Labor Talks
Feb 17, 2026
Gene Maddaus, senior media reporter at Variety who covers Hollywood labor and AI issues, breaks down how AI is reshaping negotiations. He discusses AI risks to performers and the rise of synthetic actors. He also covers current AI uses in production and how shrinking global work affects jobs and strike dynamics.
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AI Can Replace Recognizable Performances
- Advances in AI threaten performers by making realistic performances without any single actor possible.
- Gene Maddaus says this shift forces questions about compensation and control over generated performances.
Secure Pay For Synthetic Performances
- Negotiate explicit compensation and consent rules for AI-generated performances that don't mirror a single actor.
- Maddaus suggests the union is pushing to secure pay when studios use blended or synthetic performances.
Gaps Remain In AI Protections
- 2023 protections focused on consent and compensation when AI alters an actual performer's likeness.
- Maddaus notes those rules didn't cover synthetic actors that don't resemble any living person.