Pray I don't alter it any further Labor dispute erupts over AI-voiced Darth Vader in Fortnite SAG-AFTRA claims Epic didn't negotiate video game AI voice replacement terms. Benj Edwards – May 19, 2025 4:50 pm | 46 David Prowse as Darth Vader and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia filming the original Star Wars. Credit: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images David Prowse as Darth Vader and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia filming the original Star Wars. Credit: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more On Monday, SAG-AFTRA filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against Epic subsidiary Llama Productions for implementing an AI-generated Darth Vader voice in Fortnite on Friday without first notifying or bargaining with the union, as their contract requires. Llama Productions is the official signatory to SAG-AFTRA's collective bargaining agreement for Fortnite, making it legally responsible for adhering to the union's terms regarding the employment of voice actors and other performers. "We celebrate the right of our members and their estates to control the use of their digital replicas and welcome the use of new technologies," SAG-AFTRA stated in a news release. "However, we must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members, including those who previously did the work of matching Darth Vader's iconic rhythm and tone in video games." An official promo image for Darth Vader in Fortnite. Credit: Disney / Starwars.com The union's complaint comes just days after the feature sparked a separate controversy when players discovered that they could manipulate the AI into using profanity and inappropriate language until Epic quickly implemented a fix. The AI-controlled in-game character uses Google's Gemini 2.0 to generate dialogue and ElevenLabs' Flash v2.5 AI model trained on the voice of the late James Earl Jones to speak real-time responses to player questions. For voice actors who previously portrayed Darth Vader in video games, the Fortnite feature starkly illustrates how AI voice synthesis could reshape their profession. While James Earl Jones created the iconic voice for films, at least 54 voice actors have performed as Vader in various media games over the years when Jones wasn't available—work that could vanish if AI replicas become the industry standard. The union strikes back SAG-AFTRA's labor complaint (which can be read online here) doesn't focus on the AI feature's technical problems or on permission from the Jones estate, which explicitly authorized the use of a synthesized version of his voice for the character in Fortnite. The late actor, who died in 2024, had signed over his Darth Vader voice rights before his death. Instead, the union's grievance centers on labor rights and collective bargaining. In the NLRB filing, SAG-AFTRA alleges that Llama Productions "failed and refused to bargain in good faith with the union by making unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, without providing notice to the union or the opportunity to bargain, by utilizing AI-generated voices to replace bargaining unit work on the Interactive Program Fortnite." The action comes amid SAG-AFTRA's ongoing interactive media strike, which began in July 2024 after negotiations with video game producers stalled primarily over AI protections. The strike continues, with more than 100 games signing interim agreements, while others, including those from major publishers like Epic, remain in dispute. Benj Edwards Senior AI Reporter Benj Edwards Senior AI Reporter Benj Edwards is Ars Technica's Senior AI Reporter and founder of the site's dedicated AI beat in 2022. He's also a tech historian with almost two decades of experience. In his free time, he writes and records music, collects vintage computers, and enjoys nature. He lives in Raleigh, NC. 46 Comments

Expletives are apparently not off the table as a foul-mouthed AI Darth Vader is added to Fortnite.

Photo Credit: Reuters More than 60,000 such titles are marked as narrated by these voices on Audible Highlights Audiobooks are the fastest-growing format in publishing Titles can be either created exclusively for Audible or distribution Audible will also offer a translation feature Advertisement Amazon.com's Audible is working with US-based book publishers to convert print and e-books into artificial intelligence-voiced audiobooks,  helping to expand its catalog particularly in non-English speaking markets.“Every book deserves to be heard in audio,” Bob Carrigan, chief executive officer of Audible, said in an interview. Audiobooks are the fastest-growing format in publishing, according to Audible, but only two percent to five percent of existing print and e-books exist in audio form, he said. “Our goal is to close that gap.”Publishers can select from more than 100 AI-generated voices across English, Spanish, French and Italian, including numerous accent and dialect options. Titles can be either created exclusively for Audible, with a more favorable royalty rate, or for distribution outside its platform. Soon, Audible will also offer a translation feature that can convert text and audio into multiple languages in addition to the original.“The opportunity to use AI to bring more storytelling to more people in more languages is a really exciting one,” Carrigan said.Audible membership, which costs $14.95 (roughly Rs. 1,275) a month for audiobooks and podcasts, is at an all-time high, Carrigan said late last year. It's launched in some new territories recently, including Brazil, and has been experimenting with new subscription tiers and royalty models to keep its edge against Spotify Technology SA, which recently incorporated audiobook listening in its music-streaming and podcasting app.The company generally doesn't allow publishers to upload AI-voiced audiobooks that were made using third-party tools, suggesting they'll have to work with Audible's technology to tap into its significant audience.Audible has been letting self-published authors in the US employ these virtual voices to turn their e-books into audiobooks. More than 60,000 such titles are marked as narrated by these voices on Audible, up from 40,000 around this time last year.© 2025 Bloomberg LP(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Further reading: Audible, Amazon, AI Related Stories