Brian Cox rails against ‘scary’ AI at SAG-AFTRA solidarity rally in London: ‘It’s the worst’
successor Star Brian Cox identified artificial intelligence (AI) as the position we “really should fight” as he expressed his support for other US actors and writers who are currently on strike against studios and streamers.
On Friday (21 July) the UK actors’ union Equity organized a solidarity rally with its sister union, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which has joined the Writers Guild of America (WGA) on Friday ( July 14) in a fight for higher base salaries, higher streaming leftovers, and reassurances that AI won’t replace their jobs — a move that has practically crippled Hollywood.
During the gathering, which was held in London’s Leicester Square, the Scottish The 77-year-old actor focused on the “scary” AI business, which he says is “the worst aspect” of this fight.
“Wages are one thing, but the worst thing is the whole idea of AI and what AI can do to us,” Cox said in an impassioned tirade.
The passing on of a previous conversation Brave heart The actor shared what was said to a fellow actor during negotiations for a new TV show.
“He was told in no uncertain terms that they would keep his image and do whatever the hell they wanted with it,” Cox shared. “This is a totally unacceptable position. And that’s the position we should really fight against because that’s the worst.”
Cox recalled his recent appearance on a show where he was “given a list of things Brian Cox would say about artificial intelligence.”
“And the artificially intelligent Brian Cox wanted to make animal imitations. I’ve never made freaking animal imitations in my life and I don’t even know where to start. “That was really interesting, those things the AI was saying about me, and I thought that’s weird and really a little bit scary,” he said.
“Now this will happen to everyone, no one is exempt. If you do an act, if you’re in a movie, in a movie, in a TV show, they get you there and that’s what we have to stop.”
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Equity is the UK equivalent of SAG-AFTRA and represents 47,700 artists and creatives in the UK.
It stands “110 percent in solidarity” with its sister union, said Equity General Secretary Paul W. Fleming at the rally. “The problems facing SAG-AFTRA are the same as the problems we face.”
Other high profile British celebrities who attended the rally included Imelda Staunton, Downton Abbeyis Jim Carter, Selma Starring David Oyelowo and Simon Pegg.
While much of US television and film production has halted production due to the historic strike, other productions such as HBO consist primarily of British actors working under equity contracts house of the dragonwill continue production due to local union rules.
“Due to existing anti-union laws in the UK, SAG-AFTRA members currently working under an Equity UK collective bargaining agreement should continue to report for work,” read a memo sent to Equity members.
“An artist who joins the strike (or refuses to cross a picket line) in the UK has no protection from being sacked or sued for breach of contract by the producer or the activist.
“If Equity encourages someone to join the strike or not to cross a strike line, Equity itself is acting unlawfully and is therefore liable for damages or an injunction,” the union said.
Likewise, buddy HBO show Industry also works according to the equity rules. Accordingly meetingAccording to sources close to the production, filming is ongoing Industry will also proceed as planned.
