Harrison Ford Praises Human Talent, Dismisses AI Concerns in Video Game Voice Acting

How Harrison Ford brought a strike over video game AI to the world's attention

Voice actors demanding compensation when AI generates performances from their work have taken industrial action since July When Harrison Ford spoke to the Wall Street Journal last week, praising the performance of voice actor Troy Baker in the recent video game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, he was doing much more than recognising a great impression of himself. "You don't need artificial intelligence to steal my soul," he told the paper. "You can already do it for nickels and dimes with good ideas and talent. [Baker] did a brilliant job, and it didn't take AI to do it." Video game performers in the SAG-AFTRA union have been on strike since July, the major issue being the use of generative AI in the games industry. The union wants members to be compensated when AI performances are generated from their work, and demands consent and transparency around Gen AI technology. Major video game publishers such as Activision Blizzard, Disney, Warner Bros and Electronic Arts are involved in the dispute, and several recent titles including Destiny 2: Heresy and Genshin Impact have been affected, with English-language voice performances missing. AI voice synthesis is being touted as a means of cutting costs in an industry where game budgets are spiralling, but such technologies imperil actors' livelihoods while relying on their work to seed virtual performances. Plus, the budgetary benefits of the tech are still in question. Experienced voice actor Sarah Elmaleh, who has appeared in games such as Fortnite, Halo Infinite and Gears 5, is chairing the SAG-AFTRA committee negotiating with the game industry. She sees in Ford's statement a key underlying message: "What I hear is Mr Ford rightly pointing out that it is both more creatively valuable and more financially viable and efficient, especially for the whole of a major performance like this, to direct a talented human than to wrestle with an AI replica and its interface. The human-to-human interface of creating games performance can already be shockingly fast, when game actor and director are talented and experienced." Many video game developers are willing to meet the union's demands. According to Elmaleh more than 160 video game productions have signed interim or independent agreements with AI protections in place, ensuring that voice and motion capture work cannot be used to seed synthesised AI actors without permission. But major publishers are still holding out: a representative for the companies recently told Polygon that they had put forward a proposal that includes "industry-leading terms of use for AI digital replicas in-game and additional compensation for the use of an actor's performance in other games". However, in a document sent to members, SAG-AFTRA claims that the companies are seeking a variety of loopholes, including the classification of motion capture work as "data" rather than "performance", and limiting protections only to performance work carried out after a new deal has been ratified. "It turns out the employers would like to be able to use all past game performances, and any external material, without consent or compensation," says Elmaleh. "That means anything else you've performed in, TV or film-wise, anything you've put on social media, any interviews, anything they can ingest that's already out there on the internet - all of that could be fair game. This fight certainly affects all actors, no matter the category ... "If we don't right now reject the assertion that performance as a concept can be flattened and dissolved into 'data', then the environment will be all the richer for abuse and exploitation across the board. Can you imagine telling Charlie Chaplin he wasn't giving a performance - that he was just [creating] film, the material he was captured on? It sounds absurd in that context, but because digital tools and language are novel and abstract and often mysterious to people, bosses will say such things with an absolutely straight face." Ford's intervention has at least put the spotlight on the actors who aren't household names, but whose onscreen video game characters definitely are. "No company in their right mind would tangle with Mr Ford's team, or the bad optics of replicating him without any consent or compensation," says Elmaleh. "But that's what the bargaining group is trying to get away with for workaday actors."

Harrison Ford points to Troy Baker's Indiana Jones for why he's not worried about AI actors: 'You don't need artificial intelligence to steal my soul'

In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, legendary actor Harrison Ford again took the time to praise Troy Baker's performance as Indiana Jones in MachineGames' The Great Circle. Ford offered Baker's performance as a counterpoint to interest in AI-generated digital actors trained on human artists' past performances. "You don't need artificial intelligence to steal my soul. You can already do it for nickels and dimes with good ideas and talent," Ford said in response to a question about digital likeness rights, alluding to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Troy Baker's performance. "He did a brilliant job, and it didn't take AI to do it." It's nice to hear Ford's continued praise for the game and Baker's performance, but it feels like there's a tacit criticism in there as well: "You don't need AI to steal my soul, you can already steal my soul." I don't think the dig was necessarily aimed at Troy Baker or even MachineGames, but rather our culture-wide inability to let characters, fictional settings, and even individual performances go. "There won't be any need for me. There's somebody behind me. Doing what I did," Ford argued, "And that's the attraction. It's what's coming." "My plan is to keep working behind that face till I don't care what happens anymore," Ford added, seemingly unconcerned whether his estate or descendants receive royalties for any future use of his likeness. "I'm selling that piece by piece while I'm alive. I've been compensated. You don't need to worry about me." It's a philosophical perspective that I appreciate, and Ford seems optimistic that the quality, power, and genuine connection offered by real, human performances will win out over AI slop. I think I agree⁠ -- I definitely want to believe that's the case⁠ -- but until it actually happens, actors below Ford's pay grade are going to be better off hedging their bets. Videogame voice actors in SAG-AFTRA remain on strike against major US publishers, with questions of rights and payment related to training AI models with vocal performances a main sticking point in negotiations.

Harrison Ford shares his thoughts on AI in video games & voice acting

TL;DR: Harrison Ford praises Troy Baker's Indy performance while warning against AI replacing creativity, advocating for talent over automation. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a unique example of video games as a vehicle to revive a beloved old franchise. With a compelling story, and a stunning recreation of a young Harrison Ford, Troy Baker delivered a performance that left fans feeling they just saw a young Indy for the first time. (Credit: Bethesda) In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, the beloved actor sat down to discuss his career. From his early days as a carpenter, to his latest appearance as Red Hulk in Marvel's Thunderbolts. After briefly touching on the box office performance of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny ("Shit happens") he shared his thoughts regarding the video game franchise. "[Troy Baker] did a brilliant job, and it didn't take AI to do it," he said, praising Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Artificial intelligence is currently a contention point in Hollywood, with the technology affecting everything from writing, special effects, graphic design, and acting. With an acting career spanning 60 years, he's naturally expressed concerns about the tools being used to substitute creativity. "What scares me about AI is when it begins to pretend to be a creative opportunity,", he warned. A de-aged Harrison Ford in the Dial of Destiny (Credit: LucasFilm) In the video game industry, we're seeing a similar pattern. AI is being incorporated into storytelling, gameplay mechanics, writing, and the code itself. Tom's Hardware reported that over 1,000 games are using generative AI. GamerBlurb also highlighted that 62% of game developers are utilizing the tool in the production pipeline. On the subject of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Ford had nothing but praise for his video game counterpart. Highlighting not only the "great job" by Troy Baker, but the ethical blend of technology used to achieve it. "You don't need artificial intelligence to steal my soul. You can already do it for nickels and dimes with good ideas and talent," As the AI race escalates, and generative AI disrupts industries, it remains an open question - what defines the ethical use of AI in video games? What are the implications for video game writers, voice actors, and developers? Only time can tell. But in Harrison Ford's eyes, the less AI the better.

Harrison Ford is clear about it: no AI can do his job as well as another human being. - Softonic

Defining Troy Baker's work as brilliant, he doesn't think AI is needed to steal his voice Harrison Ford has praised Troy Baker's performance in the video game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, in which the voice actor portrays Indiana Jones. Ford described Baker's performance as "brilliant," emphasizing that artificial intelligence is not needed to replace voice actors. This statement comes in a context of growing concern about the use of artificial intelligence in acting, a topic that has sparked debate in the entertainment industry. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Ford reiterated his concerns about the prevalence of performances generated by artificial intelligence. "You don't need artificial intelligence to steal my soul. You can do it for a few cents with good ideas and talent," he commented, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human talent in interpretation. Despite concerns about the future of digital representations, Ford is not worried about the possibility of his image being replicated in upcoming projects. "My plan is to keep working behind that face until I no longer care what happens," he stated, suggesting that his dedication to acting remains firm, regardless of technological evolution. In the same conversation, Ford humorously addressed the box office failure of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, casually responding: "Things happen." This laid-back attitude is characteristic of the actor, who seems to face challenges both in his career and in the industry with remarkable pragmatism. The combination of praise for human performance and criticism of AI reflects a broader trend in the entertainment community, where the balance between technological innovation and the preservation of human talent continues to be a pivotal issue.

Harrison Ford: 'Indiana Jones' Game Voice Actor Shows You Don't Need AI to 'Steal My Soul' - Decrypt

In a recent interview, sci-fi acting legend Harrison Ford spoke out about AI and how little a threat it poses to actors. Ford told WSJ that he did not feel artificial intelligence will be able to steal the jobs of actors anytime soon, pointing out that it just can't replace the quality that actors offer. When asked in the interview if he was taking steps to secure his likeness -- in the wake of so many studios getting closer to having fully synthetic versions of the talent -- the Indiana Jones and Han Solo actor said: "You don't need artificial intelligence to steal my soul. You can already do it for nickels and dimes with good ideas and talent. He did a brilliant job and it didn't take AI to do it." The "he" Ford was referring to is video game voice actor Troy Baker, who managed to do a very convincing impersonation of his portrayal of Indiana Jones without any assistance from AI. Despite this performance, other actors are not so calm in the face of the AI future. Nicholas Cage has already famously warned that AI "wants to take your instrument", while Robert Downey Jr. has said he will sue all executives who create his AI digital replica. Horror film "Heretic" even went so far as to feature a disclaimer at its start, making clear that no AI was used in the making of the feature. Its co-director Bryan Woods says AI is "not human and it's borderline theft on some level." Still, the writing strikes led to some studios using AI to replace voice acting. For example, the technology was used in the award-winning movie "The Brutalist" -- and some argued it actually enhanced the voice and end result. One technology used in this and the movie Emilia Perez, called Respeacher, was praised for enhancing the vocal range of actors. Its creators say: "We developed Respeecher as an auxiliary tool that helps voice actors scale, monetize, and secure their voices. One of our guiding principles is 'Empower, not replace.'" Speaking on his future and that of acting and AI, Ford told WSJ: "my plan is to keep working behind that face till I don't care what happens anymore," and, "there won't be any need for me. There's somebody behind me. Doing what I did."

Harrison Ford says Troy Baker's "brilliant" Indiana Jones and the Great Circle performance is proof "you don't need artificial intelligence to steal my soul"

Harrison Ford reckons Troy Baker's acclaimed performance in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is proof we don't need AI to replace voice actors. Talking to WSJ (thanks, Culture Crave), Ford once again praised Baker's performance, calling it "brilliant." This comes just weeks after he took the stage at The Game Awards 2024 and said Baker did "a great job" playing Indy, which is quite the turnaround for the actor, who said back in 2019 that "nobody else" could play Indy. Anyway, he's obviously over all of that and a little more concerned about the rapidly rising prevalence of AI-generated performances. "You don't need artificial intelligence to steal my soul. You can already do it for nickels and dimes with good ideas and talent," Ford said, referring to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. "He did a brilliant job, and it didn't take AI to do it." Although he's obviously not pro-AI performances, Ford's also not terribly worried about his likeness being replicated in the future, telling WSJ "my plan is to keep working behind that face till I don't care what happens anymore," and adding, "there won't be any need for me. There's somebody behind me. Doing what I did." In the same interview, Ford addressed his 2023 movie Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny flopping at the box office in his signature dismissive style, saying simply, "shit happens." Gotta love Harrison Ford.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Is Proof 'You Don't Need AI to Steal My Soul,' Harrison Ford Says - IGN

Indiana Jones actor Harrison Ford has said Troy Baker playing the beloved character in video game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is proof "you don't need artificial intelligence to steal my soul." Ford discussed alleviating control of Indy with The Wall Street Journal Magazine, saying he was very happy with the performance of The Last of Us actor Baker. "You don't need artificial intelligence to steal my soul," Ford said. "You can already do it for nickels and dimes with good ideas and talent. He did a brilliant job, and it didn't take AI to do it." The Great Circle arrived in December as an "authentic" but maybe not canonical entry in the long running series, which received its first new film in a long time in 2023 with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. This wasn't well received at all, however, while the game was, so the creatives behind the franchise might be inclined to go in this new direction instead of having Ford put the hat back on. The legendary actor of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and soon Marvel fame is one of many creatives to criticize the use of AI in films and other forms of media, with the likes of Tim Burton calling AI generated art "very disturbing" and Nicolas Cage calling it a "dead end." Several voice actors have rallied against it too, including Grand Theft Auto 5's Ned Luke who called out a chatbot which used his voice. The Witcher voice actor Doug Cockle also told IGN that AI was "inevitable" but "dangerous", sharing in Luke's assessment that chatbots and similar uses are "effectively robbing [voice actors] of income."

Harrison Ford praises Troy Baker's Indiana Jones: "it didn't take AI to do it"

Harrison Ford has praised Troy Baker's depiction of his iconic whip-toting archaeologist in Xbox's recent release Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Ford was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, and discussed the suggestion someone might use AI to replicate his likeness in the future. Notably, his last appearance in the Indiana Jones film series includes a digitalised de-aged likeness of himself, seen through flashbacks. "You don't need artificial intelligence to steal my soul. You can already do it for nickels and dimes with good ideas and talent," said Ford, before referring to Baker's performance as the iconic Indy. "He did a brilliant job, and it didn't take AI to do it." Indeed, Ford isn't concerned with AI. "My plan is to keep working behind that face till I don't care what happens anymore. I'm selling that piece by piece while I'm alive," he said. "I've been compensated. You don't need to worry about me." AI has been a major talking point for video game actors, and a key hold-up in negotiations between actors' union SAG-AFTRA and the video game industry as a strike continues. Eurogamer spoke to celebrated video game actor Jennifer Hale about the strikes, with Hale describing AI as "an existential issue for all of us". "We need to be able to control when our voice is used," she said. "I don't want my voice used on a project that I would never support or that I didn't say yes to. We need to be compensated for when our voice is used, because we are paid for our exposure as much as for our time." If anything, Baker's performance as Indiana Jones proves AI isn't necessary to replicate an iconic character - talent is enough. Baker has been widely praised for his performance in the game, which begins with a recreation of the prologue from Raiders of the Lost Ark. "Smart, fun and so very Indiana Jones, The Great Circle is a stealth action tour de force that marks a bold new era for MachineGames," reads our five star review of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. It went on to be Eurogamer's Game of 2024.

Harrison Ford Knows Real Actor Imitations of His Characters Are Way Better Than AI

The national treasure and star of Captain America: Brave New World dismisses the use of lifeless tech. Any time Harrison Ford goes on a press tour to do his actorly duty of talking about his latest projectâ€"right now that's his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, Captain America: Brave New Worldâ€"he's unavoidably asked about his Lucasfilm heroes. The fanboy speculative line of inquiries tends to visibly annoy the actor, whose legacy as Star Wars' Han Solo as well as professor, adventurer, and legendary Nazi puncher Indiana Jones follows him wherever he goes. Thankfully he's softened up to these questions with his trademark wit and humor over timeâ€"and in some cases brings these characters up himself. Recently in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the actor addressed how he felt about the threat of AI in the field of acting. “You don’t need artificial intelligence to steal my soul. You can already do it for nickels and dimes with good ideas and talent," Ford said, referencing Troy Baker's performance as Indy in the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle video game. Ford continued, "He did a brilliant job and it didn’t take AI to do it.†And he's right, AI tech is nowhere near capturing real human emotions. While his statement could be seen as a dig at the attempt to replicate Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian, we really doubt he's seen any more Star Wars than is required of him. He doesn't need to see the Star Wars if he's lived the Star Wars.