French Voice Actors for Apex Legends Battle AI Use

In a surprising twist, the voice actors for the French version of Apex Legends have reportedly declined to sign a contract involving the use of their voices for AI training.

Pascale Chemin, who lends her voice to the character Wraith in the French localization of the game, highlighted the issue on Twitter. She revealed that a game publisher, almost certainly Electronic Arts, had included a clause in their contract intended for AI model training. Although Chemin didn’t name the specific game or publisher, all signs suggest it’s Apex Legends and EA.

Additionally, it’s reported that 31 other voice actors involved with the project joined Chemin in opposing the agreement. They’ve collectively drafted a letter expressing their refusal to the publisher.

“If we don’t stand together now to ensure our contracts include a clause safeguarding our voices—not just for ourselves, but for all video game dubbing studios—we’ll never get this protection, and we’re heading towards disaster,” Chemin stated, according to a translation on ResetEra.

She continued, “Refusing work today may seem illogical. Many of us face a scarcity of opportunities and financial difficulties. A paycheck would certainly ease things. However, this isn’t about merely accepting a job. It’s about relinquishing our skills to train the very AI that might replace us. We’re being asked to compromise our own positions. It’s as though we’re expected to help AI, which ultimately undermines our profession.”