Ashly Burch, the talented voice behind Horizon Forbidden West’s heroine Aloy, recently weighed in on a PlayStation demo showcasing an AI-driven character model. This demo, reported by The Verge, was crafted by Sharwin Raghoebardajal from PlayStation’s Advanced Technology Group. It featured Aloy’s model interacting with players using Sony’s tech, alongside GPT-4 and Llama 3.
In a candid Instagram post, Burch shared that the game’s developers, Guerrilla Games, communicated with her to clarify that this AI demonstration doesn’t mirror anything they’re currently working on. They also assured her that her contributions were not part of the model’s training data. Despite this reassurance, Burch expressed her unease.
“I’m not specifically worried about Guerrilla, Horizon, my performance, or even my career. What truly concerns me is the future of this art form,” Burch emphasized, tying her fears to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which largely revolves around AI’s implications.
The union is pushing for actors to have guaranteed consent and compensation when AI is used to replicate their performances, insisting companies clearly outline the intended applications of such technology.
“My worry isn’t merely about the existence of this tech. Naturally, game companies want to leverage every tech advancement,” Burch explained. “But I fear for the day when a similar demo is released using someone’s actual performance, voice, or likeness, and that person has no rights or means to challenge it.”
“This possibility saddens and frightens me. I deeply cherish this industry and the craft of acting in games. I hope for future generations of actors to deliver magnificent game performances and wish to continue thriving in this career. Without winning this battle, that future is at risk.”
Burch is not just Aloy’s voice; she also brings life to characters like Tiny Tina in the Borderlands series and Chloe Price in Life is Strange. She’s involved in Critical Role and the Apple TV show Mythic Quest.
Generative AI remains a hot-button issue within the gaming sphere. Despite the controversies, major companies continue to explore AI’s role in gaming, sometimes under broad and ambiguous definitions.
Microsoft, for instance, is rolling out Copilot for Gaming—a chatbot for Xbox users designed to aid in game installations and provide helpful tips. Prior to this, they unveiled Muse, an AI model capable of generating low-res game snippets that are interactive and adapt to gameplay dynamics, aiming to speed up content creation and testing.
Activision, too, faced scrutiny when it had to disclose AI usage in its game development after Steam users suspected the presence of AI-generated assets.
As someone passionate about storytelling in games and the artistry behind those performances, I truly resonate with Burch’s concerns. I earnestly hope the industry reaches a settlement that respects and compensates actors when AI technologies integrate their performances.
While it seems like a challenging road ahead, ensuring ethical and fair AI use is a fight worth pursuing.
For gamers eager to jump into Aloy’s adventures, both Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and Horizon Forbidden West are available on Windows PC and PlayStation 5.
