"Sony's AI Aloy Video Sparks Concerns Over Game Performance Art, Says Ashly Burch"

Horizon actor Ashly Burch has recently addressed a leaked AI-generated video featuring Aloy from the Horizon series, using the incident to highlight the concerns of striking voice actors. Last week, The Verge reported on the emergence of an internal Sony video demonstrating AI technology with Aloy. Sony has yet to respond to IGN’s request for comment.

In the now-deleted video, Sony Interactive Entertainment's director of software engineering, Sharwin Raghoebardajal, engages in a conversation with an AI-powered Aloy. The dialogue includes Aloy responding to a query about her well-being with, "Hello, I'm managing alright. Just dealing with a sore throat. How have you been?" The voice used for Aloy is distinctly robotic, differing from Burch's, and the AI's facial animations appear stiff and unnatural.

Burch, who has lent her voice to Aloy in all four Horizon games (Zero Dawn, Forbidden West, Call of the Mountain, and Lego Horizon Adventures), confirmed on TikTok that she had seen the video. She clarified that Guerrilla, the developer behind Horizon, informed her that the tech demo was not indicative of any ongoing development and did not utilize any of her performance data. This suggests that AI Aloy will not feature in the upcoming Horizon multiplayer game or the anticipated Horizon 3, though Guerrilla and Sony Interactive Entertainment retain ownership of the character.

Expressing her concerns, Burch stated that the video made her "worried about game performance as an art form." She utilized this as a platform to discuss the ongoing voice actors' strike, which has recently seen significant developments. The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) reported progress in negotiations over AI protections for video game actors but noted significant gaps in key issues.

Burch emphasized the demands of the strike, saying, "Currently what we’re fighting for is, you have to get our consent before you make an AI version of us in any form, you have to compensate us fairly, and you have to tell us how you’re using this AI double." She expressed fears about the future of the industry without these protections, highlighting the potential impact on new generations of actors and the quality of game performances.

Burch made it clear that her critique was not aimed at any specific company, including Guerrilla, and that the issue lies with the refusal of the industry bargaining group to agree to "common sense protections." She reaffirmed her support for the strike, urging game companies to sign existing temporary union contracts that offer the protections sought by the actors.

Generative AI remains a contentious topic in the video game and entertainment industries, with ethical and rights issues at the forefront. Despite some failures, like Keywords Studios' experimental AI game, several companies, including Activision with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, continue to explore AI applications. The voice actor strike has already impacted games such as Destiny 2, World of Warcraft, League of Legends, and Zenless Zone Zero, with noticeable changes in voice acting.

Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions and head of product at PlayStation Studios, highlighted the importance of AI in gaming for younger audiences seeking personalization and meaningful experiences.

@ashly.burch let us speak on AI aloy

♬ original sound - Ashly Burch

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