(Image credit: Larian Studios)
The integration of AI in voice acting has stirred considerable debate in the video game realm, especially amid the ongoing SAG-AFTRA video game strikes. One of the primary issues at hand is ensuring protections against unauthorized AI replications of actors’ performances. It’s not merely adolescents on TikTok making Plankton from SpongeBob SquarePants sing Chappell Roan; major corporations are exploring ways to circumvent the need for voice actors.
This trend became evident with a recently leaked Sony demo featuring Aloy from the Horizon series in a subpar Project Milo demonstration. Despite the demo’s lackluster quality, it sets a concerning trend. Ashly Burch, who voices Aloy and whose performance data was not used for the demo, expressed her concern over the impact of AI on “game performance as an art form.” Burch’s apprehensions are shared by many in the industry.
In a recent conversation with Edge Magazine, Baldur’s Gate 3 and Resident Evil voice actor Neil Newbon voiced similar fears, stating, “AI will have deep ramifications across all industries if not ethically governed.” Currently, AI usage is still nascent and lacks proper oversight, akin to a wild west scenario. Since generative AI relies heavily on existing human-created work, the need for regulation is critical.
Most outputs, like the Aloy demo, are poorly executed and lack the genuine connection that art created by humans provides. Newbon reflects this sentiment, asserting, “As an artist, I believe in experiencing life and art through human expression, not software… AI, after all, is built on creations originally crafted by humans, and there is a fundamental difference between the two.”
The irony of the AI-driven Aloy demo did not escape Horizon fans, who noted that “The entire game is a warning against this kind of nonsense.” Stay updated with weekly digests and tales from your favorite communities.