Animators from around the world are planning to protest the use of artificial intelligence (AI) at this year’s Annecy Festival in France. The festival, which is expecting a record 18,000 accredited guests, will feature several panels and roundtables focused on AI’s impact on the animation industry. Labor groups from the United States, France, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, and other countries have released a joint statement demanding action against AI’s growing presence in animation.
They argue that AI threatens the quality and credibility of the craft, calling it a flawed and destructive imitation machine rather than a helpful tool. The collective has called for workers, students, and others concerned about AI’s rise in animation to attend a public town hall near the festival’s Bonlieu central hub.
Animators protest AI at Annecy
The statement warns that AI could eliminate human jobs, foster public distrust, and have detrimental environmental consequences due to its high computing power requirements. The statement reads, “This unchecked growth and unjustified techno-optimism comes with incredible environmental consequences, including expanding demand for computing power, larger carbon footprints, shifts in patterns of electricity and water demands, and an accelerated depletion of natural resources. As such, there is a need for protection frameworks around GenAI, centered around transparency, compensation, control on the use of the work of the creator, and informed consent.
The unions are calling for legislation to protect artists‘ rights and creative culture.
They are urging creative workers worldwide to stand against the implementation of AI in their field and appealing to producers and studio heads to focus on protecting creative jobs. The protest will take place on Thursday, June 12th, at 2 PM, on the Paquier, where union representatives will read their statement and discuss their concerns. Unions and organizations behind this initiative include SNTPCT, SPIAC-CGT, Animation Workers of Ireland, l’ABRACA, Kunstenbond, Unie Van Regisseurs, Les Intervalles, Guilde Française des Scénaristes, Syndicat des Scénaristes, SFA, SNAM, STJV, GWU Ireland, CSVI-CGT, UNI, FIA, and FIM.
Kirstie a technology news reporter at DevX. She reports on emerging technologies and startups waiting to skyrocket.
