Sean Astin on Protecting Actors from AI Threats

Sean Astin, recently elected president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), spoke about the union’s focus on safeguarding actors amid the rise of generative AI. In a lengthy discussion with Variety, Astin described AI’s capability to create what he calls “synthetic creations” that can deceive the eye as a “serious threat,” emphasizing that addressing this challenge will require “absolute concentration.”

He elaborated, “It wasn’t a threat in terms of marketing. I think agents have shifted from representing talent to managing synthetic data.” Astin expressed his concerns directly about artificial intelligence, stating that the ability to create lifelike, man-made creations poses a substantial risk.

Astin reflected on the long-standing recognition of this issue, noting, “We’ve anticipated this for some time. At SAG-AFTRA, we’re leading the way in shaping policies related to this, especially within the entertainment industry. Our legal team is involved in drafting language included in emerging AI protection legislation.”

Earlier this year, concerns arose regarding talent agents potentially representing a digital actress named Tilly Norwood, but Astin dismissed these reports as false. “It was created as if this fictional character might disrupt the agency world. The narrative mirrored classic tales of a young genius emerging to stardom—but it was all set up, entirely fake,” he commented.

He saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate the public’s interest in these emerging issues and to guide that attention from the perspective of performers who aren’t being sidelined.