Do actors get paid when AI uses their likeness?

Payment depends on the contract and the use. SAG-AFTRA agreements establish consent and compensation rules for many covered digital replicas.

For productions covered by SAG-AFTRA agreements, many uses of a performer’s digital replica require informed consent and negotiated compensation. Rights outside those contracts depend on the deal, the kind of use, and applicable likeness laws—so there is no single rule for every production.

Why consent matters before a likeness is reused

A digital replica can keep working long after filming ends — in sequels, ads, or scenes the performer never acted. That is why consent matters as much as pay: a fair deal should say what can be made, where it can appear, and for how long. Without clear limits, a single scan could be reused in ways the actor never expected or approved.

What to do, step by step

1. Ask whether the production is covered by a SAG-AFTRA agreement, since that shapes the consent and pay rules that apply.
2. Read any replica clause separately from the main acting job — look for the specific uses being requested.
3. Check the time period, territory, and media covered, and whether new uses need fresh permission.
4. Confirm how compensation is calculated for each kind of reuse before agreeing to a scan or recording.
5. Get the agreed terms in writing, and keep a copy with other important work records.