Mass Effect Shepard Actor Voices Concern Over AI

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Mass Effect Shepard Actor Voices Concern Over AI

Key Takeaways

  • Jennifer Hale highlights dangers of generative AI in voice acting.
  • Hale supports legislation to protect voices from being replicated with AI without permission.
  • AI continues to be a controversial topic in the gaming industry.

As a gamer with decades of immersive experiences under my belt, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of concern about the rapid advancements in generative AI, particularly when it comes to voice acting. I’ve witnessed the transformative power of voices like Jennifer Hale’s, who brought Commander Shepard to life in the Mass Effect series, and countless other iconic characters across gaming history.

Jennifer Hale, a renowned voice actress known for iconic video game characters like Commander Shepard from Mass Effect, is expressing concerns about the possible risks of advanced AI technology. With a career in voice acting that dates back to the late ’80s, Hale has provided voices for various cartoons and video games. Besides the female version of Commander Shepard in the initial three Mass Effect games, Jennifer Hale’s repertoire includes Naomi Hunter from Metal Gear Solid, Bastila Shan from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Rivet from Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, among many others.

More recently, Jennifer Hale, like several other skilled voice actors, has voiced her concerns about the growing influence of artificial intelligence systems. These AI technologies have stirred up much debate because they can mimic someone’s voice without their consent. Additionally, there’s a fear that developers might use AI to replace human voice actors entirely, a concern that has prompted the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) to threaten a strike against prominent American developers on July 25.

In her conversation with Variety, Jennifer Hale expressed concerns about the future impact of AI-generated content on jobs traditionally held by humans, such as actors, artists, and developers. She likened AI to a tool like a hammer, explaining that while it can be used constructively to build something, it could also be wielded destructively to cause harm. Specifically, she highlighted instances where AI has been employed to mimic voice actors in the past.

Jennifer Hale Addresses Concerns About Generative AI

Jennifer Hale additionally clarified that the National Association of Voice Actors has previously approached Congress with the intention of drafting laws aimed at safeguarding human voices and work from being imitated by AI. “Shouldn’t we be compensated if something originates from our bodies or our voices?” Hale advocated, voicing her support for bills such as the proposed “No Fakes Act.” “Given that technology is being employed to undermine our capacity to provide for our families, these measures are essential,” she emphasized.

Voice actors such as Jennifer Hale from Mass Effect haven’t been alone in discussing the expanding concern about generative AI within the gaming sector. For quite some time now, organizations like Square Enix and Wizards of the Coast have faced criticism over their application and endorsement of AI, whereas Nintendo has publicly declared that it won’t incorporate generative AI for its own games.

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2024-09-02 18:24