Horizon's Aloy Voice Actress Expresses Concern After Leaked Video Featuring Sony's New AI Technology
Last week, a leaked video showcasing Sony's AI technology surfaced online, featuring Aloy from the Horizon game series interacting with a developer using AI-generated voice and facial expressions. Ashly Burch, the voice actress for the character, has already responded to this prototype.
She expressed her concern about the video and the situation as a whole. She also emphasized that developers from Guerrilla Games informed her that the video does not reflect current plans and does not use her voice or likeness. Nevertheless, the actress fears that such technologies could threaten the voice acting profession.
I feel worried not because the technology exists. Not even because game companies want to use it. Of course they do. They always want to use technological advancements. I just imagine a video like this coming out that does have someone’s performance attached to it, that does have someone’s voice or face or movement. And the possibility that if we lose this fight, that person would have no recourse. They wouldn’t have any protections, any way to fight back. And that possibility, it makes me so sad it hurts my heart. It scares me. I love this industry and this art form so much and I want there to be a new generation of actors. I want there to be so many more incredible game performances. I want to be able to continue to do this job. If we don’t win, that future is really compromised.
I’m genuinely not trying to put any game company specifically on blast. Certainly not Guerrilla. The technology isn’t the problem. Game companies wanting to use the technology isn’t the problem. The problem is we’re currently on strike and the bargaining group will not agree to give us common sense protections.
It is worth noting that Ashly Burch supported the actors' strike organized by the SAG-AFTRA union, which demands the protection of rights to use actors’ voices and likenesses with AI. The main demands are obtaining consent for data usage, fair compensation, and full transparency in the use of AI doubles. Burch emphasizes that the fight is not against technology but for people's rights.
Meanwhile, PlayStation Productions head Asad Qizilbash stated that the younger generation of gamers expects more personalization from games, and AI characters can help achieve this goal.
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