In a surprising twist, a recent AI-generated demo of Aloy, the protagonist from Horizon Forbidden West, has sparked a heated debate in the gaming community. The demo, which utilized generative AI technology, has left many questioning the future of gaming and the role of artificial intelligence in the industry. Amidst this digital storm, actress Ashly Burch, the voice of Aloy, has spoken out about the demo, sharing her thoughts on the intersection of gaming and AI.
Ai Aloy Demo Sparks Concerns
A leaked footage of an AI Aloy demo has sparked concerns in the gaming industry, with actress Ashly Burch responding to the demo and sharing her thoughts on the matter. The demo, which showed a Sony employee interacting with an on-screen AI version of the Horizon lead, raised questions about the authenticity and ownership of the demo.
Leaked Footage and Ashly Burch’s Response
Burch, who has starred in several games including Horizon, Life is Strange, Borderlands, and The Last of Us, shared her response to the leaked footage on her social channels. She stated that Horizon developer Guerrilla had been in contact with her to clarify that the demo did not reflect anything that was actively in development.
“I saw the tech demo earlier this week,” Burch said. “Guerrilla owns Aloy as a character. But still, I feel worried. 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.”
The Demo’s Authenticity and Ownership
Burch emphasized that Sony did not use any of her performance data for the demo, including her facial or voice data. This raises questions about the ownership and authenticity of the demo, and whether game companies should be allowed to create AI versions of actors without their consent.
“I feel worried about this art form,” Burch said. “Game performance as an art form. I love this industry and the creative art form. I want there to be a new generation of actors, and for there to be so many more incredible game performances from those actors.”
The SAG-AFTRA Strikes and AI Protections
The leaked footage of the AI Aloy demo has also highlighted the importance of the SAG-AFTRA strikes, which are currently underway in the gaming industry. The strikes are centered around the issue of AI protections, with actors demanding fair compensation and consent before their performances are used to create AI versions.
The Fight for Consent and Fair Compensation
Burch emphasized the importance of the strikes, stating that actors are fighting for common sense protections that will ensure they are fairly compensated and have a say in how their performances are used.
“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.”
The Risks of Unprotected AI Use in Gaming
Burch warned of the risks of unprotected AI use in gaming, stating that if actors do not have protections in place, they may have no recourse if their performances are used without their consent.
“I just imagine a video like this coming out that does have someone’s performance attached to it,” Burch said. “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 Future of Game Performance and AI
The leaked footage of the AI Aloy demo has also raised questions about the future of game performance and AI in the gaming industry. As AI technology continues to advance, it is likely that we will see more instances of AI being used to create game performances.
The Importance of Artist Protections in the Industry
Burch emphasized the importance of artist protections in the industry, stating that actors need to have a say in how their performances are used and compensated fairly.
“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 her support for the strike, emphasizing that fighting for artist protections is essential to protecting the future and longevity of the gaming industry.
The Impact of AI on Game Development and Actors
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.”
The Need for New Generation of Actors and Protections
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.”
Industry Insights and AI Developments
Microsoft’s Muse and the Generative AI Breakthrough
Last month, Microsoft trumpeted the announcement of Muse, a new “generative AI breakthrough” designed to aid “gameplay ideation”.
Take-Two Interactive’s View on AI and its Limitations
Also in February, Take-Two Interactive boss Strauss Zelnick opened up about his views on AI, calling the concept of artificial intelligence “an oxymoron”.
Activision’s Use of Generative AI in Call of Duty Controversy
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.
The Bigger Picture and Supporting the Strike
Ashly Burch’s Support for the Strike and its Significance
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.”
Conclusion
As we conclude our exploration of the Horizon Forbidden West actress’s response to the AI Aloy demo, it’s clear that the debate surrounding the use of AI in gaming has reached a new level of complexity. The actress’s comments shed light on the nuances of voice acting in the age of AI, highlighting the importance of human touch and emotional depth in character development. The demo’s impressive AI-generated Aloy may have captured the essence of the character, but it’s the human element that truly brings her to life.
The significance of this topic extends beyond the boundaries of the gaming world, as it raises questions about the role of technology in creative industries. As AI continues to advance, we can expect to see more discussions around the intersection of human creativity and machine-generated content. The implications are far-reaching, with the potential to revolutionize the way we approach storytelling, character development, and even the very notion of what it means to be human.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, we can expect to see more innovative uses of AI, but it’s essential to remember that the human element will always be the missing piece. As we move forward, let’s not forget that it’s the human heart that beats behind every well-crafted character, and it’s up to us to ensure that the art of storytelling remains a collaborative effort between humans and machines.