Horizon Zero Dawn’s Controversial AI Demo Has Major Voice Actor “Worried About This Art Form”

by

Summary

  • The voice actress of Aloy of Horizon Zero Dawn has made a statement about the recent AI bot of her character.
  • AI characters can potentially be modeled after a voice actor without their consent.
  • SAG-AFTRA maintains that explicit rules need to be followed by gaming companies as they develop AI.

Previously in the week, gamers were left astonished by clandestine video showcasing an AI analogue of the character Aloy, famously known from the successful PlayStation Horizon franchise. The technological innovation was indeed startling, but what left many of us speechless was witnessing such a prominent gaming studio exhibit advanced AI character technology in broad daylight.

Ashly Burch, the voice actor for Aloy and currently involved in a strike with SAG-AFTRA, shared her personal thoughts about the AI duplicate/strike predicament on Instagram.

It seems quite clear that this technology merely resembles a basic demonstration at the moment, and there’s no indication it will be applied to any future projects. However, encountering an AI model with such a rudimentary appearance was unexpected, given the significant discussions surrounding actor-focused AI integration.

At approximately the same moment, SAG-AFTRA shared a statement concerning the ongoing actors’ strike against video game firms. This statement underscored concerns about potential “troubling gaps” that could expose union members to mistreatment by AI technology.

The debate on AI integration in gaming has moved beyond the question of if it will occur, to more of a discussion about when it will begin. With prominent companies such as Nvidia showcasing these AI chat systems within gaming environments, it seems like only a matter of time before this becomes a reality.

Yet, the movement of AI models into the wider gaming industry is causing concern for Burch regarding this artistic medium. Although she’s not actively resisting these changes, she and SAG-AFTRA are taking steps to minimize potential harm that may be inflicted on video game actors by these advancements.

Instead of creating AI representations of us without our approval, it’s essential that you seek our consent first, ensure fair compensation, and transparently disclose the methods by which you utilize these AI doubles.

Establishing transparent guidelines on consent for AI systems is undoubtedly a key collaboration approach between businesses and individuals when dealing with emerging technologies. By doing so, it’s hoped that those contributing to the success of gaming companies will receive fair compensation for their efforts.

Instead of preventing gaming companies from using AI altogether, these rules aim to ensure that they don’t exploit performers in the process. At a minimum, this should prevent outright abuse of talent.

The Dangerous Ways AI Could Be Abused Against Actors

It’s crucial to note that Ashly Burch’s portrayal of Aloy in the game is distinct from the AI version seen in the recently leaked footage.

However, as Burch highlights in their article, the possibility of misuse lies in an AI model being developed based on an actor or actress, without their prior approval.

My concern isn’t primarily about the technology being available; instead, it’s the potential scenario that emerges when a video like this surfaces, featuring an individual’s performance, whether it be their voice, face, or movements. If we fail to address this issue, there could be no means of redress for that person.

As AI integration in gaming becomes more commonplace, there’s an increasing likelihood that such technology might be misused or manipulated, potentially harming or taking advantage of voice actors.

In the midst of ongoing discussions about AI, many corporations have faced intense scrutiny due to concerns about questionable methods used for training their AI systems.

It’s encouraging that these precautionary steps can help bring an end to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, ensuring skilled voice actors can still earn pay for their captivating performances in beloved video games.

Read More

2025-03-15 03:09