Ashly Burch, the voice behind Aloy in the Horizon series, recently addressed a leaked Sony video featuring an AI version of her character. This video, which surfaced last week and was reported by The Verge, showcased Sony's AI technology in action. Sony has yet to respond to IGN’s request for comment on this matter.
In the now-deleted video, Sony Interactive Entertainment's director of software engineering, Sharwin Raghoebardajal, engages in a conversation with an AI-powered Aloy. The AI responds to his query about her well-being with, "Hello, I'm managing alright. Just dealing with a sore throat. How have you been?" However, the voice and facial animations of AI Aloy were noticeably robotic and lacked the warmth and life of Burch's performance.
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Burch took to TikTok to express her concerns after Horizon developer Guerrilla confirmed that the tech demo was not indicative of any ongoing projects and did not utilize any of her performance data. This assurance extends to the upcoming Horizon multiplayer game and the anticipated Horizon 3, although Guerrilla and Sony Interactive Entertainment retain ownership of the Aloy character.
The AI Aloy video prompted Burch to discuss broader issues surrounding the use of AI in gaming, particularly in the context of the ongoing video game voice actors strike. The strike, supported by the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), aims to secure protections against the use of AI in voice acting. Burch emphasized the importance of consent, fair compensation, and transparency in the use of AI doubles.
"Currently what we’re fighting for is, you have to get our consent before you make an AI version of us in any form, you have to compensate us fairly, and you have to tell us how you’re using this AI double," Burch stated. She expressed concern not about the technology itself but the lack of protections for actors, which could jeopardize the future of the industry.
Burch clarified that her criticism was not directed at any specific company, including Guerrilla, but rather at the industry's refusal to grant "common sense protections" during the strike. She highlighted the availability of temporary union contracts that could provide the necessary protections, urging game companies to sign them.
@ashly.burch let us speak on AI aloy
♬ original sound - Ashly Burch
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Generative AI remains a contentious issue in the gaming and entertainment industries, with companies like Keywords Studios facing challenges in creating AI-generated games. Despite this, companies such as Activision have incorporated AI into their products, like in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The voice actor strike has already impacted games like Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft, with unvoiced NPCs appearing in scenes, and led to recasting in games like League of Legends and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Recently, two voice actors for Zenless Zone Zero discovered their replacement through patch notes.
Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions and head of product at PlayStation Studios, emphasized the importance of AI in gaming for younger audiences, particularly Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who seek personalized experiences. "For instance, non-player characters in games could interact with players based on their actions, making it feel more personal,” Qizilbash said. “This is important for the younger Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences, who are the first generations that grew up digitally and are looking for personalization across everything, as well as looking for experiences to have more meaning."
