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[00:00.44] During his more than 60-year acting career, James Earl Jones’ voice became a star of its own.

[00:11.34] Jones died this week at the age of 93.

[00:16.91] One of Jones' career decisions continues to be an issue of debate: his permission to let artificial intelligence (AI) reproduce his performances as Darth Vader for new projects.

[00:36.04] Skywalker Sound and Ukrainian software company Respeecher used AI to recreate Jones' Darth Vader for the 2022 show Obi-Wan Kenobi.

[00:53.04] The show appears on the streaming service Disney+.

[00:58.90] The voice of actor Mark Hamill was also “de-aged” using Respeecher. Hamill played Luke Skywalker in the first Star Wars movie.

[01:12.18] His AI-manufactured voice was used in the series’ television show The Mandalorian. Disney+ launched the show in 2019.

[01:26.52] Voice actors say they fear AI could reduce the number of jobs because the technology can reproduce one performance into many.

[01:39.80] The concern led American unionized video game performers to go on strike in July.

[01:49.90] For some observers, Jones' decision to permit AI to reproduce his voice raises questions about voice acting as an art.

[02:02.39] But the decision also could help develop AI agreements that fairly pay actors for AI-based performances.

[02:12.74] Zeke Alton is a voice actor and member of SAG-AFTRA’s interactive media agreement negotiating committee.

[02:24.16] He said it is “amazing” that Jones was involved in the process of reproducing his voice.

[02:33.20] “If the game companies, the movie companies, gave the consent, compensation transparency to every actor that they gave James Earl Jones, we wouldn’t be on strike,” Alton said.

[02:49.13] “It proves that they can do it. They just don’t want to for people that they feel don’t have the leverage to bargain for themselves.”

[03:00.28] Hollywood’s video game performers called for a strike after more than 18 months of negotiations over a new interactive media agreement with industry leaders.

[03:15.96] The negotiators could not reach an agreement on artificial intelligence protections.

[03:24.19] Members of the union have said they are not opposed to AI.

[03:30.30] They say they are worried, however, that technology could replace them.

[03:37.21] Concerns over such use of AI were among the reasons that film and television workers went on strike last year.

[03:47.58] The work stoppages went on for four months.

[03:53.16] Neither Skywalker Sound nor Respeecher answered a request for comment from Associated Press reporters.

[04:02.99] But a sound editor with Skywalker Sound spoke to Vanity Fair magazine about the issue.

[04:11.49] The worker reported that Jones approved the use of old recordings to keep Darth Vader alive.

[04:20.52] The worker added that Jones guided the new performances.

[04:25.57] Jones' contract could set an example of properly bargaining with an actor over their likeness, said Sarah Elmaleh.

[04:36.99] She is chair of SAG-AFTRA's interactive negotiating committee.

[04:43.37] Elmaleh, a voice actor, said there is a chance for these tools to be used in “meaningful, smart artistic decisions.”