SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland recently partnered with president Fran Drescher to lead the Union of more than 160,000 entertainment and media professionals through one of the most closely followed and consequential union contract negotiations in a generation. Under his leadership, one of the union’s main priorities was the protection of its members from emerging AI technologies, and the implementation of guardrails within the entertainment industry to protect intellectual property and recognize the value of human artistry.

Securing groundbreaking wins around AI, the successes of SAG-AFTRA’s 2023 TV/Theatrical strike will be instructive across industries and sectors. The SAG-AFTRA story provides a road map for future labor negotiations — especially for workers who have found their professions at risk of disruption or displacement due to AI.

Along with Session Moderator Brendan Vaughan (Editor-in-Chief, Fast Company), Crabtree-Ireland will discuss the recent strike, how AI can help and harm creative professionals, and the renewed focus that labor can have to safeguard jobs in a new era of rapid technological advancement.