Horizon actor Ashly Burch has recently addressed a leaked AI-powered video featuring Aloy from the Horizon series, using it as a platform to highlight the concerns of striking voice actors. Last week, The Verge reported on the emergence of this internal Sony video, which has since been deleted. Sony has not yet responded to IGN's request for comment regarding the video.
In the video, Sony Interactive Entertainment's director of software engineering, Sharwin Raghoebardajal, engages in a conversation with an AI version of Aloy. The AI Aloy responds to inquiries about her well-being with a robotic voice, far from the authentic voice of Ashly Burch, and exhibits stiff facial animations and lifeless eyes.
The Best PlayStation Character Face-Off
Pick a winner
New duel
1ST
2ND
3RDSee your ResultsFinish playing for your personal results or see the community’s!Continue playingSee results
Burch, who has lent her voice to Aloy in all four Horizon games to date, took to TikTok to discuss the video. She confirmed that she had been informed by Horizon developer Guerrilla that the tech demo was not reflective of any active development and did not utilize any of her performance data. This clarification likely means that the AI Aloy won't be featured in the upcoming Horizon multiplayer game or Horizon 3. However, Burch noted that Sony, as the owner of the Aloy character, could theoretically use the technology in future projects.
Expressing her concerns, Burch stated that the AI Aloy video made her "worried about game performance as an art form." She used the situation to draw attention to the ongoing strike by video game voice actors, emphasizing the importance of securing protections against the unauthorized use of AI in replicating their performances. Burch explained that the strike is fighting for consent, fair compensation, and transparency in how AI doubles are used.
"I feel worried not because the technology exists... 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," Burch expressed. She underscored her love for the industry and her desire to ensure a future for new generations of actors and high-quality game performances.
Burch made it clear that her concerns were not directed at any specific company, including Guerrilla, but rather at the broader issue of the industry's refusal to provide "common sense protections" during the strike. She reiterated her support for the strike and pointed out that temporary union contracts offering the requested protections are currently available for any game company to sign.
@ashly.burch let us speak on AI aloy ♬ original sound - Ashly Burch
Generative AI is a contentious topic in the video game and entertainment industries, which have seen significant layoffs and ethical and rights-related criticisms. For example, Keywords Studios' attempt to create an AI-generated game failed, with the company admitting to investors that AI could not replace human talent.
Despite such setbacks, companies like Activision have continued to integrate generative AI into their games, as seen with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The voice actor strike has already affected several games, with unvoiced NPCs appearing in titles like Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft, and voice actor replacements in games like League of Legends and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Recent developments also include two Zenless Zone Zero voice actors discovering their replacement through patch notes. Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions and product at PlayStation Studios, emphasized the importance of AI in gaming for younger audiences seeking personalized experiences.
