Horizon's Ashly Burch Voices Concerns Over AI Aloy Demo, Highlighting Industry-Wide AI Debate

Hear what Horizon Zero Dawn actor Ashly Burch thinks about AI taking her job

But Burch says having seen the demo, she is worried, and not just about her own career. "I feel worried about this art form," she says. You can watch her video immediately below, or scroll down for a full transcript. Hi. Let's talk about AI Aloy. I saw the tech demo earlier this week. Guerilla reached out to me to let me know that the demo didn't reflect anything that was actively in development. They didn't use any of my performance for the demo, so none of my facial or voice data. And Guerilla owns Aloy as a character. So all that said, I feel worried. And not worried about Guerilla specifically or Horizon or my performance or my career specifically, even. I feel worried about this art form. Game performance as an art form. We are currently on strike. SAG-AFTRA is on strike against video games because of AI. Because this technology exists, because we know that game companies want to use it, we're asking for protections. So currently what we're fighting for is that 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. And I feel worried not because the technology exists. Not even because game companies want to use it. Because of course they do. They always want to use technological advancements. I just imagine a video like this coming out that does have someone's performance attached to it. That does have someone's voice or face or movement. And the possibility that if we lose this fight, that person would have no recourse. They wouldn't have any protections. Any way to fight back. And that possibility... it makes me so sad. It hurts my heart. It scares me. I love this industry and this art form so much and I want there to be a new generation of actors. I want there to be so many more incredible game performances. I want to be able to continue.

Horizon Actor Ashly Burch Speaks on Sony's AI Aloy Video

A genAI Aloy may not pop up in Horizon 3, but the possibility has still left a bad taste in viewers' mouths. You may have seen a video earlier this week of Aloy, protagonist of PlayStation’s Horizon franchise, recreated with generative AI in a leaked Sony test demo. The video spurred a whirlwind of emotions from players and developers, in part because the Aloy bot has a robotic voice found in text-to-speech programs, rather than that of her longtime human voice actor, Ashly Burch. Despite not having her facial or voice data used for the bot, and Guerrilla telling her ahead of time that this wasn’t for anything actively in development, Burch admitted to feeling “worried about game performance as an art form." In the video below, she touches on voice actors' current fight for AI-related rights to voice acting, such as getting to consent to developers using replicas of their performances, and to know what those replicas are being used for. Sony’s leaked video featured the genAI Aloy answering questions from Sony Interactive’s software engineering director Sharwan Raghiebardajal. Upon booting up Horizon Forbidden West, the replica describes the in-game beasts nearest the player and their ideal weak point. It’s all basic stuff that the player can do just playing Forbidden West, as you can scan beasts to see what they are and their most vital areas, and if you forget, the in-game glossary has you covered. But the footage comes amid a larger push for generative AI by major publishers, who see the technology as a boon in the development process, from design and art to voice acting. The SAG-AFTRA voice actor strike is close to going on for a full year, and the union recently said major companies like WB Games and Take-Two refuse to budge on using the technology to create voice replicas. This AI Aloy represents part of those actors’ fears: Sony and Guerrilla own Horizon, so they have the power to do as they wish with Aloy without informing Burch of the specifics, and that could possibly extend to her voice performance. Her greater concern is for actors in less secure positions than hers that could be greatly impacted by this, which she admits "hurts my heart. I love this industry and this art form so much and I want there to be a new generation of actors, and I want there to be so many more incredible game performances. I want to be able to continue doing this job, and if we don’t win, then that future is really compromised." At time of writing, Sony’s yet to comment on the Aloy demo video, or discuss plans to incorporate anything like this tech into its PlayStation products. But the silence itself may speak volumes.Â

Voice Actor for Aloy in "Horizon" Games Creeped Out by AI Version of Her Character

Ashly Burch, the voice actor behind Aloy from the acclaimed PlayStation titles Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Hidden West, has responded to the leaked tech demo showing off a clumsy but uncanny AI imitation of her performance as the character. In a video shared on TikTok, Burch said that the footage had her concerned -- not simply about the future of the game franchise or her own career, but for her profession as a whole. "I feel worried about this art form -- game performance as an art form," Burch said in the video, which she also shared on her Instagram. The footage, which was leaked online by an anonymous source but has now been taken down via copyright strike, originated as an internal presentation from Sony's PlayStation Studios. Using an approximation of Burch's voice, the AI-puppeted Aloy is shown stiffly answering a variety of questions asked out loud by the presenter, in a pretty far cry from the vivacious personality that fans of the game series have come to adore. Burch said that Guerilla Games, the developers of "Horizon," claimed that the demo "didn't reflect anything that was actively in development." And no performance capture was involved, the studio further claimed, so Burch's voice or facial data wasn't used. Nonetheless, it's an upsetting spectacle. Burch reiterated that voice actors like herself are currently on strike, largely because of the AI tech evidenced here. Performers are asking for protection, Burch said, "because we know that game companies want to use it." Led by SAG-AFTRA, the strike has been in effect against the game industry since July 2024, and was initiated in the wake of the labor union's strike against the film industry in the preceding year, which won limited AI protections. "What we're fighting for is that you have to get our consent before you make an AI version of us in any form," Burch said in the video. "You have to compensate us fairly and you have to tell us how you're using this AI double." Given that there's an ongoing strike, the timing of the tech demo is extremely tone-deaf -- if not a cynical warning to performers. "The technology isn't the problem," Burch said. "The problem is we're currently on strike, and the bargaining group will not agree to give us common sense protections." "If we lose this fight," she added, there'd be "no recourse" for a performer who has their likeness stolen by AI.

Horizon Forbidden West actress Ashly Burch responds to Sony's controversial AI Aloy

Actress Ashly Burch has responded to the leaked AI Aloy footage, which made the rounds earlier this week. The footage in question showed a Sony employee engaging with an on-screen AI version of the Horizon lead. The employee asked the AI Aloy a number of questions, such as "how are you", to which the character replied she was ok, but "dealing with a sore throat", before she shared some Horizon lore. Now, Burch - who along with starring as Horizon's Aloy has featured in a series such as Life is Strange, Borderlands and The Last of Us - has shared her thoughts on the leaked footage. "I saw the tech demo earlier this week," Burch said in a video shared on her social channels, adding Horizon developer Guerrilla had been in contact with her to say the "demo didn't reflect anything that was actively in development". Meanwhile, Sony "didn't use any of [Burch's] performance" for the demo. "So none of my facial or voice data," Aloy's actress said. "Guerrilla owns Aloy as a character." But still, "I feel worried," Burch continued. "Not worried about Guerrilla specifically, or Horizon, or my performance, or my career specifically, even. I feel worried about this art form. "Game performance as an art form." Burch went on to speak about the current SAG-AFTRA strikes, of which AI is a big part of the discussion. "We're asking for protections," Burch said. "What we are 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." Burch added she doesn't feel worried because the technology exists, or even because game companies want to use it, reasoning "of course they do - they always want to use technological advancements". "I just imagine a video like this coming out that does have someone's performance attached to it. That does have someone's voice, or face, or movement. And the possibility that if we lose this fight, that person would have no recourse," the actress said. "They wouldn't have any protections. Any way to fight back. "And that possibility... it makes me so sad. It hurts my heart. It scares me." Burch stated she loves this industry and the creative art form. She wants there "to be a new generation of actors", and for there to be "so many more incredible game performances" from those actors. "I want to be able to continue, to do this job, and if we don't win, then that future is really compromised," Burch said. "I'm genuinely not trying to put any game company specifically on blast, certainly not Guerrilla, because again, I don't think... the technology isn't the problem. Game companies wanting to use the technology isn't the problem. The problem is we are currently on strike and the bargaining group will not agree to give us common sense protections. Burch closed by stating she supports the strike, and always has. "Fighting is what we have to do to protect the future and longevity of this career we all love so much." You can see Burch's full video via the embed below. AI continues to be a hot topic and several video game developers have flirted with the technology. Last month, Microsoft trumpeted the announcement of Muse, a new "generative AI breakthrough" designed to aid "gameplay ideation". Also in February, Take-Two Interactive boss Strauss Zelnick opened up about his views on AI, calling the concept of artificial intelligence "an oxymoron". Meanwhile, the Microsoft-owned Activision recently came under fire for its use of generative AI, admitting some in-game content in Call of Duty has been created using the technology.

Horizon Frobidden West actress Ashly Burch responds to Sony's controversial AI Aloy

Actress Ashly Burch has spoken out on the leaked AI Aloy footage which made the rounds earlier this week. The footage in question showed a Sony employee engaging with an on-screen AI version of the Horizon lead. The employee asked the AI Aloy a number of questions, such as "how are you", to which the character replied she was ok, but "dealing with a sore throat", before she shared some Horizon lore. Now, Burch - who along with Horizon has starred in a series such as Life is Strange, Borderlands and The Last of Us - has shared her thoughts on the leaked footage. "I saw the tech demo earlier this week," Burch said in a video shared on her social channels, adding Horizon developer Guerrilla had been in contact with her to say the "demo didn't reflect anything that was actively in development". Meanwhile, Sony "didn't use any of [Burch's] performance" for the demo. "So none of my facial or voice data," Aloy's actress said. "Guerrilla owns Aloy as a character." But still, "I feel worried," Burch continued. "Not worried about Guerrilla specifically, or Horizon, or my performance, or my career specifically, even. I feel worried about this art form. "Game performance as an art form." Burch went on to speak about the current SAG-AFTRA strikes, of which AI is a big part of the discussion. "We're asking for protections," Burch said. "What we are 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." Burch added she doesn't feel worried because the technology exists, or even because game companies want to use it, reasoning "of course they do - they always want to use technological advancements". "I just imagine a video like this coming out that does have someone's performance attached to it. That does have someone's voice, or face, or movement. And the possibility that if we lose this fight, that person would have no recourse," the actress said. "They wouldn't have any protections. Any way to fight back. "And that possibility... it makes me so sad. It hurts my heart. It scares me." Burch stated she loves this industry and the creative art form. She wants there "to be a new generation of actors", and for there to be "so many more incredible game performances" from those actors. "I want to be able to continue, to do this job, and if we don't win, then that future is really compromised," Burch said. "I'm genuinely not trying to put any game company specifically on blast, certainly not Guerrilla, because again, I don't think... the technology isn't the problem. Game companies wanting to use the technology isn't the problem. The problem is we are currently on strike and the bargaining group will not agree to give us common sense protections. Burch closed by stating she supports the strike, and always has. "Fighting is what we have to do to protect the future and longevity of this career we all love so much." You can see Burch's full video via the embed below. AI continues to be a hot topic and several video game developers have flirted with the technology. Last month, Microsoft trumpeted the announcement of Muse, a new "generative AI breakthrough" designed to aid "gameplay ideation". Also in February, Take-Two Interactive boss Strauss Zelnick opened up about his views on AI, calling the concept of artificial intelligence "an oxymoron". Meanwhile, the Microsoft-owned Activision recently came under fire for its use of generative AI, admitting some in-game content in Call of Duty has been created using the technology.

'I feel worried about this art form:' Unsurprisingly, the real Aloy from Horizon isn't a fan of AI Aloy

Horizon voice actor Ashly Burch speaks out about leaked AI tech demo of her character and calls for AI protection for game actors. Voice actor Ashly Burch, known for her role as Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, shared her response to a controversial AI tech demo of her character leaked last week and, unsurprisingly, it has her worried about the future of the gaming industry. Burch explained in a TikTok video, "Gorilla reached out to me to let me know that the demo didn't reflect anything that was actively in development. They didn't use any of my performance for the demo, so none of my facial or voice data." "All that said, I feel worried. And not worried about Gorilla specifically or Horizon or my performance or my career specifically, even. I feel worried about this art form, game performance as an art form." Burch's response comes amidst an ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike hinging on protections for actors from the use of AI to replace them in the gaming industry. SAG-AFTRA fought a similar battle in the film and TV industry back in 2023 alongside the Writers Guild of America. Now, video game voice and motion capture actors are also striking to protect their careers and the future of their industry from AI. Ashly Burch summed up the situation in her video, stating, "The technology isn't the problem, game companies wanting to use the technology isn't the problem. The problem is that we are currently on strike and the bargaining group [for the game studios] will not agree to give us common sense protections." The leaked AI tech demo of Aloy is a stark warning about what the future of the gaming industry could look like if voice and motion capture artists don't win their fight for AI protections. The clip of the tech demo has been removed from YouTube, but the footage was noticeably more cold and robotic than Burch's phenomenal performance as Aloy. It highlights all the nuance and heart we lose when the human element is taken out of game performances. Fans are unhappy about the tech demo as well. As one Horizon player commented on Reddit, "If they use this AI tech in the next game. I will not be buying it or playing it." Another user called fans to support Burch, commenting, "As fans of games like Horizon, we should support the PEOPLE working to improve our entertainment experiences. I'm all for technical advancement, like she said. But it can't replace people." While Burch reassured everyone in her video that her performance wasn't used to train the AI Aloy shown in the tech demo, she admitted that the risk of actors' performances being exploited or used without their permission for AI is very real. "I feel worried not because the technology exists, not even because game companies want to use it. Of course they do, they always want to use technological advancements. I just imagine a video like this coming out that does have someone's performance attached to it," Burch explained. She added, "If we lose this fight, that person would have no recourse. They wouldn't have any protections, any way to fight back. And that possibility... It makes me so sad." Actors and gamers alike are right to be worried about the future of the gaming industry. Voice and motion capture actors have become the heart and soul of so many great games and are getting much more recognition today than they once did. Hopefully, game studios take notice of the response to the AI Aloy clip from Burch and Horizon fans. AI can be a helpful tool in gaming, but if it's used to take actors out of the equation, that's a loss for gamers and gaming as a powerful storytelling medium. As Ashly Burch put it, "I love this industry and this art form so much and I want there to be a new generation of actors. I want there to be so many more incredible game performances. [...] If we don't win, then that future is really compromised."

Voice actor for PlayStation's Horizon series responds to her AI-generated character

TL;DR: The voice actor for Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West has addressed a leaked video featuring an AI-generated version of Aloy. The voice actor behind Aloy, the main character from Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, has commented on the recently leaked video that shows an AI-generated Aloy. AI-generated Aloy responding to questions The voice behind the iconic PlayStation character Ashly Burch took to TikTok to comment on the AI-generated video that leaked last week, with Burch explaining the developer of the Horizon games contacted her shortly after the video leaked and informed her that none of her personal data or voice acting was used in the creation of the AI-generated Aloy. Gorilla also said to the voice actor the demo didn't reflect "anything that was actively in development". After the disclaimers, Burch went on to say how the AI-generated content made her feel as whole, with the voice actor going on to mention how this video emerged during an ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, where actors are protesting against the use of AI in the video game industry as a means of replacing them. These strikes are extremely similar to the SAG-AFTRA strikes in the film and TV industry that occurred in 2023, where actors pushed studios for protections against AI generating their likenesses without permission and ultimately replacing them. "The technology isn't the problem, game companies wanting to use the technology isn't the problem. The problem is that we are currently on strike and the bargaining group [for the game studios] will not agree to give us common sense protections." "I feel worried not because the technology exists, not even because game companies want to use it. Of course they do, they always want to use technological advancements. I just imagine a video like this coming out that does have someone's performance attached to it," Burch explained. "If we lose this fight, that person would have no recourse. They wouldn't have any protections, any way to fight back. And that possibility... It makes me so sad," added Burch "I love this industry and this art form so much and I want there to be a new generation of actors. I want there to be so many more incredible game performances. [...] If we don't win, then that future is really compromised."

Aloy Voice Actor Ashly Burch 'Worried About This Art Form' After Horizon Zero Dawn AI Demo Leaks

Voice actor Ashly Burch responded to an internal Sony tech demo featuring a generative-AI controlled version of the hero she plays in the Horizon Zero Dawn games, Aloy, saying it's exactly why she and other game performers are currently on strike. "I am worried for this art form," she told fans in a new TikTok video. The leaked demo reported by The Verge showed Aloy carrying on a conversation with a Sony engineer by generating computer-voiced responses in real-time. It was an extremely crude interaction, but behind its obvious limitations was a stark warning about how the technology might be used in games once it improves. One of those potential consequences includes harvesting performances from real actors and then replacing them with digital replicas, as striking SAG-AFTRA members recently claimed. "Guerrilla reached out to let me know that the demo didn't reflect anything that was actively in development," said Burch -- who also stars in the Apple parody of the game industry called Mythic Quest -- in her recent video. "They didn't use any of my performance for the demo, none of my facial or voice data. Guerrilla owns Aloy as a character. So all that said, I feel worried, and not worried about Guerilla specifically, or Horizon, or my performance, or my career specifically even, I feel worried about this art form, game performance as an art form." Burch explained how SAG-AFTRA, of which she's a member, has been on strike with many of the biggest video game companies -- including Activision, Electronic Arts, and others -- over AI protections, and pointed to the Aloy tech demo as a perfect example of what the group is fighting for. Burch noted that the performance rules the actors are asking companies to sign onto have already been agree to by others in various interim agreements. "I just imagine a video like this coming out that does have someone's performance attached to it, that does have someone's face, or voice, or movement, and the possibility that if we lose this fight that person would have no recourse, they wouldn't have any protections, and way to fight back, and that possibility makes me so sad, it breaks my heart, it scares me," she said. "We have proposed a deal 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," a spokesperson Audrey Cooling of the game company bargaining group said in a statement last week. "We have made meaningful progress and are eager to return to the bargaining table to reach a deal." Burch suggested it's not enough. "The technology isn't the problem, game companies wanting to use the technology isn't the problem," she continued in her video. "We're on strike and the bargaining group will not agree to give us common sense protections. I support the strike, I've always supported the strike, I believe fighting is what we have to do to protect the future and longevity of this career we all love so much."

Horizon Zero Dawn star Ashly Burch responds to Sony's controversial AI Aloy by pushing for actor protections: "You have to compensate us fairly, and you have to tell us how you're using this AI"

Earlier this week, footage of an AI-powered character prototype developed by Sony and modeled after Horizon Zero Dawn's Aloy leaked online. The game's community was immediately critical of the whole effort, and now Ashly Burch, the human actor behind Aloy's original performance, has published her own response. "I saw the tech demo earlier this week," Burch says in an Instagram video. "Guerrilla reached out to me to let me know that the demo didn't reflect anything that was actively in development. They didn't use any of my performance for the demo, so none of my facial or voice data." But still, "I feel worried," Burch says. "Not worried about Guerrilla specifically, or Horizon, or my performance, or my career specifically, even. I feel worried about this art form. Game performance as an art form." Burch is part of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes against the video game industry, and a key component of those strikes is the demand for better protections against the unauthorized use of actors' performances through generative AI. "What we're fighting for is that you have to get our consent before you make an AI version of us in any form," Burch explains. "You have to compensate us fairly, and you have to tell us how you're using this AI double." The actor previously participated in the SAG-AFTRA video game strike of 2016-2017, which saw the union demanding residual payments and more transparency around the roles actors were being cast for. Notably, the strike left Burch unable to reprise her role as Chloe in Life Is Strange: Before the Storm until the game's DLC bonus episode. The state of the negotiations in the current strike has had the union denouncing game industry proposals that are "still filled with alarming loopholes that will leave our members vulnerable to AI abuse." People like Resident Evil and Witcher 3 mocap director Steve Kniebihly remain confident that AI won't be replacing real actors "anytime soon," but those concerns are a big part of why the strike is ongoing. "I feel worried not because the technology exists, [and] not even because game companies want to use it, because of course they do - they always want to use technological advancements," Burch says. "I just imagine a video like this coming out that does have someone's performance attached to it - that does have someone's voice or face or movement - and the possibility that if we lose this fight, that person would have no recourse. They wouldn't have any protections, any way to fight back. That possibility, it makes me so sad."

Horizon actress "worried" for the future of gaming after Sony's AI Aloy controversy

Ashly Burch shares concerns about "game performance as an art form." Last week a leaked video surfaced online demonstrating new technology replacing Horizon's protagonist Aloy with an AI chatbot. The Sony experiment was a jarring revelation for gaming fans who were staunchly against the move, and now Aloy's official actress, Ashly Burch, has weighed in on the troubling situation. AI and the future of game design is still a tumultuous topic, but sadly we're already seeing lazy corner-cutting AI usage permeating the gaming sphere (Activision, I'm looking at you). In the wake of continued SAG-AFTRA's strikes, it concerning to see that developers are continuing to snub the human talent that brings their games to life. The now-deleted video featured Sony software engineering director Sharwin Raghoebardajal chatting with AI Aloy, with fans calling it "Creepy," "ghastly," "rancid," and "cursed". Taking to Instagram, Ashly Burch explained that the game's developer, Guerrilla, got in touch to ensure her that the video "didn't reflect anything that was actively in development." Despite their claims, Ashly told followers "I feel worried about this art form. Game performance as an art form." With strikes in action due to AI usage in the games industry, Ashly's concerns are an ever-present issue. "I feel worried not because the technology exists. Not even because game companies want to use it. Because of course they do. They always want to use technological advancements," she adds. "I love this industry and this art form so much and I want there to be a new generation of actors. I want there to be so many more incredible game performances," Ashly says. "I want to be able to continue, to do this job, and if we don't win, then that future is really compromised," she concludes. In a time where tensions are high around AI in the gaming industry, Sony's leaked video presents us with an uncertain future. Using AI technology to create a more immersive, personalised gaming experience has been talked about for some time, but there's a huge difference in applying the technology to NPCs vs beloved protagonists. At the moment it's easy to lose faith in the games industry and anticipate an AI takeover, but the optimist in me hopes that it can strike a balance where AI innovation is merely an enhancement of human talent. If you missed it, check out our initial reaction to Sony's AI-generated Aloy. If you're after more AI gaming news take a look at why Nvidia's AI characters are about to transform how we see video games.

Horizon Actor Ashly Burch Says Sony's AI Aloy Video Left Her Feeling 'Worried About Game Performance as an Art Form' - IGN

Horizon actor Ashly Burch has addressed the AI Aloy video that leaked online last week, using it to call attention to the demands of striking voice actors. Last week, The Verge reported on the emergence of an internal Sony video showing off tech that uses Aloy from the Horizon series to demonstrate AI-powered characters. Sony has yet to respond to IGN's request for comment. In the now deleted video, Sony Interactive Entertainment director of software engineering, Sharwin Raghoebardajal, has a conversation with an AI-powered Aloy via voice prompts and AI-generated speech and facial animations. Raghoebardajal asks Aloy how she's doing, to which she responds: "Hello, I'm managing alright. Just dealing with a sore throat. How have you been?" The voice heard coming from Aloy's mouth is clearly not that of Burch, rather a robotic voice similar to those heard from text-to-speech voice generators. AI Aloy's facial movements are stiff and her eyes appear lifeless as she converses with Raghoebardajal. Burch, who has voiced Aloy in all four Horizon video games released so far (Zero Dawn, Forbidden West, Call of the Mountain, and Lego Horizon Adventures) took to social media platform TikTok to confirm that she had seen the video, and that Horizon developer Guerrilla had got in touch to let her know that the tech demo did not reflect anything that was in active development, nor did it use any of Burch's performance (facial or voice data). That presumably rules out AI Aloy for the upcoming Horizon multiplayer game, assuming the character is in the game, and the inevitable Horizon 3. However, as Burch pointed out, Guerrilla (and parent company Sony Interactive Entertainment) owns Aloy as a character. With all this in mind, Burch said the AI Aloy video left her feeling "worried about game performance as an art form," and used it as a jumping off point to discuss the ongoing video game voice actors strike that has claimed a number of high-profile casualties in recent weeks. Last week, the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) issued an update to its members on the status of negotiations over video game actor AI protections, saying that while progress had been made, it was still "frustratingly far apart" with the industry bargaining group on key issues. "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," Burch said. "I feel worried not because the technology exists. Not even because game companies want to use it. Of course they do. They always want to use technological advancements. I just imagine a video like this coming out that does have someone's performance attached to it, that does have someone's voice or face or movement. And the possibility that if we lose this fight, that person would have no recourse. They wouldn't have any protections, any way to fight back. And that possibility, it makes me so sad it hurts my heart. It scares me. I love this industry and this art form so much and I want there to be a new generation of actors. I want there to be so many more incredible game performances. I want to be able to continue to do this job. If we don't win, that future is really compromised. "I'm genuinely not trying to put any game company specifically on blast," Burch continued. "Certainly not Guerrilla. The technology isn't the problem. Game companies wanting to use the technology isn't the problem. The problem is we're currently on strike and the bargaining group will not agree to give us common sense protections. "I support the strike. I've always supported the strike. I believe fighting is what we have to do to protect the future and the longevity of this career that we all love so much." Burch then pointed to the temporary union contracts that currently give all the protections the striking voice actors are asking for, that any video game company can sign right now. "There's the interim, the tiered, and low budget agreement contracts available right now for any game company to sign," Burch said. "I believe we deserve to be protected." Generative AI is one of the hottest topics within the video game and entertainment industries, which have both suffered massive layoffs in recent years. It has drawn criticism from players and creators due to a mix of ethical issues, rights issues, and AI's struggles to produce content audiences actually enjoy. For instance, Keywords Studios attempted to create an experimental game internally using entirely AI. The game failed, with Keywords citing to investors that AI was "unable to replace talent." Still, that hasn't put off a number of video game companies from using generative AI in the development of their products. Activision recently disclosed the use of generative AI for some Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 assets as part of new requirements on Steam, amid a backlash to an "AI slop" zombie Santa loading screen. And the voice actor strike has begun to impact a number of video games. Players have reported that games such as Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft appear to have certain NPCs left unvoiced in otherwise voiced scenes, likely due to the strike. Late last year, SAG-AFTRA struck League of Legends after Riot allegedly tried to subvert the strike by canceling a game in response. And Activision confirmed Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 characters were recast after players expressed concern about new voices. Just last week, two Zenless Zone Zero voice actors revealed they learned they'd been replaced when they saw the game's latest patch notes. Head of PlayStation Productions and head of product at PlayStation Studios Asad Qizilbash recently weighed in on AI to say its use in video games is important to Gen Z and Gen Alpha gamers who seek "personalization across everything." "For instance, non-player characters in games could interact with players based on their actions, making it feel more personal," Qizilbash said. "This is important for the younger Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences, who are the first generations that grew up digitally and are looking for personalization across everything, as well as looking for experiences to have more meaning."

The actress who voices the protagonist of the Horizon franchise is concerned about the use of AI in the video game - Softonic

All of this after AI has been used to give the character a voice without their consent Ashly Burch, the voice actress known for her iconic role as Aloy in the Horizon franchise games, has expressed her concern about the future of the gaming industry due to the increasing use of artificial intelligence technology. This concern arises after the leak of an AI technology demo featuring Aloy, which has generated controversy due to its lack of nuance and emotional depth, potentially affecting the narrative quality of video games. In a video posted on TikTok, Burch clarified that the demo does not reflect active development and that her performance was not used to train the AI version of Aloy. However, the actress expressed concern not only for her personal career but also for the impact that these technologies could have on the way acting in video games is perceived. Burch emphasized the need to protect actors from motion capture and voice work amid the SAG-AFTRA strike, which seeks to establish safeguards against the replacement of their jobs by AI, similar to a struggle that has already occurred in the film and television industry. Fans of the Horizon saga have expressed their discontent on social media, arguing that the use of AI dehumanizes the gaming experience. Many followers have made it clear that they will not support the future of the series if this technology is chosen over human performances. Burch emphasized that losing the fight for protection against the use of AI would compromise the future of performances in video games, affecting the quality and depth needed to tell meaningful stories. As the gaming industry advances technologically, the situation of voice actors and capture becomes a crucial topic. The gaming community and industry professionals must come together to ensure that technological evolution does not replace the human talent that brings characters and narratives in video games to life.