Ashly Burch, the voice behind Aloy in the Horizon series, has publicly addressed a recently leaked Sony video featuring an AI version of her character. The video, which surfaced last week, was reported by The Verge and showcased Sony's AI technology through a conversation between Sony Interactive Entertainment's director of software engineering, Sharwin Raghoebardajal, and an AI-generated Aloy. Sony has yet to comment on the video to IGN.
In the video, which has since been removed, Aloy's voice was distinctly robotic, far from Burch's natural tone, and her facial animations were notably stiff. This led to Burch expressing her concerns on TikTok, clarifying that the tech demo was not indicative of any ongoing development at Guerrilla, nor did it utilize any of her performance data. She emphasized that while Sony owns the character of Aloy, the use of AI in this manner raised broader concerns about the future of game performance as an art form.
Burch's comments also shed light on the ongoing strike by video game voice actors, led by SAG-AFTRA, which is fighting for protections against AI usage. These include consent for creating AI versions of actors, fair compensation, and transparency in how AI is used. Burch stressed the importance of these protections, noting that without them, future actors might have no recourse if their performances are used without permission.
She highlighted that temporary union contracts offering these protections are currently available for video game companies to sign, urging them to do so to support the industry's future. Burch's support for the strike underscores her commitment to preserving the integrity and longevity of voice acting as a career.
The broader context of AI in gaming has seen mixed reactions, with companies like Keywords Studios experimenting with AI-generated games, which ultimately failed due to AI's inability to replace human talent. Despite this, some companies like Activision have moved forward with AI, using it for assets in games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which has faced criticism.
The voice actor strike has already impacted several games, with noticeable changes in voiceovers for titles like Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft. High-profile cases, such as the recasting in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and the sudden replacement of voice actors in Zenless Zone Zero, underline the strike's tangible effects.
Asad Qizilbash from PlayStation has highlighted the potential of AI in personalizing gaming experiences, particularly appealing to younger generations seeking more meaningful interactions. However, the ongoing debate around AI in gaming continues to balance technological advancement with ethical and artistic considerations.
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