Newly elected SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin is sounding the alarm over generative artificial intelligence, calling it a serious threat to actors and vowing that the union will lead the charge in protecting performers’ rights.
Speaking in a recent interview, the Lord of the Rings actor described AI-generated, lifelike “synthetic creations” as an urgent danger that demands immediate attention. “The actual technology itself… that’s an absolute threat,” Astin said. He made clear that his concern isn’t about agents shifting careers into AI management—it’s about AI tools replacing human performances altogether.
Astin emphasized that SAG-AFTRA is on the front lines of the issue. “At SAG-AFTRA, we are in the vanguard. We are the industry leaders at helping shape policy in this space,” he explained, noting the union’s involvement in drafting legislation aimed at protecting creative professionals from AI misuse.
The actor also addressed recent controversy around “Tilly Norwood,” a fictional AI actress whose story circulated earlier this year. Astin dismissed it as a fake narrative used to stir public concern. “It was all fake… and it was all engineered,” he said. Still, he acknowledged that the public’s reaction created an opportunity for the union to highlight real dangers posed by AI.
Astin said the union is now focusing on efforts to ensure that no performer is displaced or digitally replicated without permission. This includes advocating for tools like consent tracking, watermarking, and stronger contract protections. His message to those developing or using synthetic actors: without transparency and fair compensation, there will be pushback.
As AI grows more capable of mimicking human likeness and voice, the entertainment industry is being forced to confront new questions around ethics, compensation, and creative ownership. Astin says SAG-AFTRA will remain firm in defending the dignity and value of real performers in a rapidly changing digital world.
