Home / Technology / SAG-AFTRA Condemns OpenAI's "Opt-Out" Copyright Model, Dismisses AI "Actress" as "Synthetic Construct"
SAG-AFTRA Condemns OpenAI's "Opt-Out" Copyright Model, Dismisses AI "Actress" as "Synthetic Construct"
10 Oct
Summary
- SAG-AFTRA leaders slam OpenAI's Sora 2 for "opt-out" copyright model
- Warn Sora 2 "threatens economic foundation" of entertainment industry
- Dismiss AI "actress" Tilly Norwood as a "synthetic construct" without consent
On October 10th, 2025, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors and other entertainment professionals, issued a strongly worded memo to its members addressing the growing threat of AI in Hollywood. The memo, signed by SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin and National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, condemned the recent release of OpenAI's Sora 2, a video generation service that requires copyright holders to "opt out" of their content being used by the AI.
Astin and Crabtree-Ireland argued that this "opt-out" model "threatens the economic foundation of our entire industry," as it allows Sora 2 to use performers' work without their permission. The union leaders also took aim at the rise of AI "actress" Tilly Norwood, dismissing her as a "synthetic construct generated by software" that was created without the consent or compensation of real human performers.
The memo comes amid growing concerns over the implications of AI technology on the livelihoods of actors and other entertainment professionals. Astin and Crabtree-Ireland vowed to continue fighting to protect the rights and interests of their members in the face of these disruptive AI advancements.
