Ashly Burch, the voice behind Aloy in the Horizon series, has recently addressed a leaked internal Sony video featuring an AI-generated version of her character. The video, which was reported by The Verge and has since been deleted, showcased Sony Interactive Entertainment's director of software engineering, Sharwin Raghoebardajal, engaging in a conversation with an AI-powered Aloy. The AI version of Aloy responded to Raghoebardajal's question about her well-being with, "Hello, I'm managing alright. Just dealing with a sore throat. How have you been?" However, the voice and facial animations of AI Aloy were noticeably robotic and lacked the lifelike quality of Burch's performance.

Burch took to TikTok to share her reaction to the video, confirming that she had been informed by Horizon developer Guerrilla that the demo was not part of any active development and did not utilize any of her performance data. While this might rule out AI Aloy for future Horizon titles, Burch expressed concern over the broader implications for the industry. She highlighted her worries about the future of game performance as an art form and used the incident to draw attention to the ongoing strike by video game voice actors.

The strike, led by the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), focuses on securing protections against the unauthorized use of AI to replicate actors' performances. Burch emphasized the importance of consent, fair compensation, and transparency in how AI doubles are used. She voiced her fears about a future where actors could lose control over their digital likenesses without proper protections, potentially stifling the growth and creativity in the industry.

Burch made it clear that her critique was not aimed at any specific company, including Guerrilla, but rather at the lack of agreement from the industry bargaining group on these crucial issues. She supports the strike and believes that fighting for these protections is essential to safeguard the future of voice acting in video games. Burch also mentioned that interim union contracts are available, which already provide the protections the striking actors are demanding, urging game companies to sign these agreements.

The topic of generative AI in video games remains contentious, with recent examples such as Keywords Studios' failed AI-generated game and Activision's use of AI in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 drawing scrutiny. The ongoing strike has already affected games like Destiny 2, World of Warcraft, and League of Legends, with some characters left unvoiced or recast. As the industry continues to grapple with these issues, voices like Burch's are crucial in advocating for the rights and future of game performers.

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Generative AI continues to be a hot topic in the video game and entertainment industries, which have faced significant layoffs in recent years. The technology has sparked debate over ethical and rights issues, as well as its ability to create engaging content. Head of PlayStation Productions and head of product at PlayStation Studios, Asad Qizilbash, highlighted the importance of AI in meeting the demands of younger gamers for personalized experiences. He noted that AI could enable non-player characters to interact with players in a more meaningful way, aligning with the preferences of Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences.