A leaked Sony test demo video showed Aloy, the protagonist of Horizon Forbidden West, recreated with generative AI. The video sparked a mix of emotions from players and developers, particularly because Aloy’s robotic voice differs from her human voice actor Ashly Burch.
Burch expressed concern about game performance as an art form and the fight for AI-related rights in voice acting. She feels worried that developers may use replicas of performances without consent or transparency. Despite being told ahead of time that the demo was not part of an active project, she is concerned about her own situation and those of other actors who may be affected.
The video comes as major publishers push generative AI, seeing it as a boon for development. The SAG-AFTRA voice actor strike nears its one-year mark, with companies like WB Games and Take-Two refusing to back down on using the technology for voice replicas. Aloy’s AI replica represents the actors’ fears about potential exploitation of their performances.
Burch believes that her concerns are not just about her own situation but also about those in less secure positions who could be greatly impacted by this technology. She wants to continue doing her job and sees the future of game performances being compromised if they don’t win. Sony has yet to comment on the demo video or plans to incorporate AI tech into its products, leaving the silence itself a subject of speculation.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/horizon-actor-ashly-burch-speaks-on-sonys-ai-aloy-video-2000576589