‘That is an unbelievable second in the midst of human historical past’: Sean Astin on how he’s combating for humanity in opposition to an onslaught of AI actors

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Sean Astin can mix into the background when he needs to, however I noticed the 54-year-old actor's unmistakable smile and twinkling eyes that carried me by way of the Lord of the Rings trilogy inexplicably in the course of CES 2026 Central Corridor. He was surrounded by what I assumed had been followers of his many roles on TV and display (LTR, Stranger Issues, Goonies), however, as I approached, I noticed an intense dialogue and guessed it was all about AI.

Astin attended CES in his place as SAG-AFTRA President, together with a contingent of about 20 employees members, to suss out the present state of AI growth and merchandise and what which may imply for the group's 160,000 members of actors, broadcasters, dancers, hosts, recording artists, stunt performers, and different artistic professionals.

I gingerly approached the group and was politely but firmly blocked by a PR rep who defined the state of affairs: This was an impromptu SAG-AFTRA assembly, not a fan meetup. Nonetheless, Astin and firm graciously agreed to talk to me concerning the state of actors, AI, and what SAG-AFTRA and Astin, in his position as a labor chief, are combating for.

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We met hours later at a close-by restaurant the place dozens of shoppers dug into Asian delicacies whereas Astin and I dug into the actually vital dialog we're all having about know-how, AI, creativity, and actors.

Why is Sean Astin at CES? It may appear incongruous for Samwise Gamgee or Drew Barrymore's loving but clueless brother from 50 First Dates to be appearing as a labor chief and spokesperson for one of many US's extra priceless and arguably vital industries, however Astin additionally has a level in Historical past in American Literature and Tradition, and a Grasp's in Public Administration and Public Coverage. Having the context of historical past and the understanding of governance absolutely turns out to be useful at this important second, and utilizing these instruments and the expanse of the world's largest commerce present to make sense of all of it's kind of genius.

“Points surrounding AI are actually vital to our members. So, ensuring we type of have a command of what we're speaking about once I got here into CES; I really was kind of mission-focused."

CES is an enormous present, however this 12 months it is virtually as if the hundreds of corporations are all talking with one voice and saying the identical phrase: AI. But, the implementation of synthetic intelligence is as diversified as the businesses and folks behind them. How did Astin get a deal with on it, sift by way of the forest to seek out the digital bushes? He used AI, after all.

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Astin instructed me he used AI to assist him type by way of the supplies, to arrange for the duty, feeding that knowledge into the AI, and he mentioned, with out mentioning the particular AI platform, then speaking with it to guage and perceive the two.5 million sq. ft of conference area.

"What it helped me do was type of refine what my mission was for the 2 or three days that I used to be navigating this area."

Put one other approach, Astin is not afraid to satisfy the enemy by itself turf, particularly when it might assist him accomplish a essential activity.

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The mission, although, didn’t depart him a lot time to easily wander and benefit from the cubicles. “I used to be partaking with corporations that do issues like, you understand, provenance, knowledge, safety, and stuff like that."

Diving this deep into the beating AI coronary heart of CES was, in a method, to acknowledge its existence.

"There is a second at which, nicely, I see issues all of civilization must be being attentive to it. However my focus as a labor chief is to determine the purpose at which it crosses over as an leisure or as a enterprise...and strikes into our space the place it impacts our members and their title picture and likeness and their – the issues the place we have now jurisdiction over protecting and so forth," defined Astin.

Bracing and making ready for the approaching AI storm With fast advances in generative fashions driving the creation of convincing AI voices, pictures, and actors (good day, Tilly Norwood), it’s been a busy 12 months in AI and leisure, and Astin, who’s solely been SAG-AFTRA President for 4 months, has been monitoring all of it.

“When Disney invests a billion {dollars} into OpenAI or Amazon, 10 billion, or there's new ranges of performance, a realism in type of open merchandise which might be accessible to the general public…that basically pose an existential risk to our group and even, an unsure risk, we have now to react and perceive and hold shifting,” he mentioned.

You'd suppose that SAG-AFTRA’s comparatively quick 3-year contract bargaining cycles would align with the tempo of AI growth, however that’s clearly not the case.

Now we have to react, perceive, and hold shifting.

Astin talked to me about how they've to arrange for this second, regardless of how rapidly issues have modified because the final bargaining cycle, when his group first addressed the existential risk posed by AI.

“We knew, once we had been attaining sure language in our final settlement, which was foundational, new, novel stuff about completely different guardrails and issues, that…it might be outdated,” he instructed me.

SAG-AFTRA and its members now face “an entire new array of challenges and dynamics,” mentioned Astin.

To grasp how one can tackle these challenges and construct into the following contract the required language and protections, Astin needed to journey to CES in Las Vegas to know the AI state of play.

This isn't only a dialog about film stars Whereas a lot of the dialog about AI and actors appears to revolve round deep fakes of largely big-named stars, anybody who’s seen up shut how AI impacts an trade is aware of that it’s usually entry-level jobs and fewer high-profile positions which might be in danger.

“Voiceover stuff, I believe, is actually imperiled in the meanwhile, and we're doing all the things we cannot simply in bargaining but additionally from a public coverage perspective," defined Astin.

SAG-AFTRA is engaged on incorporating authorized language that helps defend these artistic staff, however its work on this area may have wider implications.

“Each trade in America goes by way of this, however I believe we're type of within the forefront, as a result of it is such a visual usurpation of our work.”

The work is difficult, with dozens of conferences, pitches, proposals, and dealing with communities like stunt staff to determine how one can defend their concepts and pictures.

Each trade in America goes by way of this, however I believe we're type of within the forefront, as a result of it is such a visual usurpation of our work.

One other space of great concern is background actors. AI is actually adept at creating virtually Non-Participant Characters (NPCs) for content material, and that might imperil background actors' work and alternatives.

“Inside our contract, there's guidelines {that a} sure variety of the background actors, for instance, should be employed inside the union,…So if a digital duplicate is created, and it finally ends up fulfilling what could be 10 of these roles,” 10 human actors nonetheless should be compensated indirectly (just like the contribution to their pension well being plan).

Whereas Astin acknowledges that that is an thrilling frontier area, he additionally instructed me that “a wholesome chunk of our membership is anti AI.”

AI made CES inevitable for Astin These members are demanding that SAG-AFTRA drive leisure corporations to behave in a sure approach in the case of AI, however to try this, SAG-AFTRA and extra particularly, Sean Astin, the group's chief spokesperson, should perceive AI.

“Finally, you understand, we have now to be – I am right here at CES.. as a result of...the second calls for that I be right here.”

It’s maybe the dimensions of what we’re all navigating on this AI age that's most astonishing and one thing Astin is clearly grappling with.

“That is an unbelievable second in the midst of human historical past. There have been sure moments, you understand, the event of the wheel, the Industrial Revolution, and the arrival of sure medical applied sciences, [and] transportation. That is one among them. This is without doubt one of the most impactful timesin all of human historical past."

I requested Astin if he’s feeling web constructive about the place issues are heading.

That is an unbelievable second in the midst of human historical past.

For now, he famous that the free-floating concern is about work displacement. “I do not know that I am optimistic or pessimistic about that. “

There are, although, some issues Astin is aware of.

“I believe it is an absolute certainty that the workforce goes to be injured by this development on this know-how.”

Astin additionally believes that the artistic urge won't evaporate due to AI.

“The truth that there are folks in my line of labor who wish to act, who wish to make music, who wish to direct motion pictures and tv, who wish to produce them? They don't seem to be going to cease doing that work as a result of a know-how is right here, and I believe as a result of they're captivated with it, the audiences will at all times be there.”

TechRadar has been extensively protecting this 12 months's CES, and is bringing you the entire massive bulletins as they occur. Head over to our CES 2026 information web page for the most recent tales and our hands-on verdicts on all the things from wi-fi TVs and foldable shows to new telephones, laptops, good dwelling devices, and the most recent in AI.

And don’t neglect to observe us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the most recent from the CES present flooring!

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