Ashly Burch, the voice behind Aloy in the Horizon series, recently addressed a leaked internal Sony video featuring an AI-powered version of Aloy. This video, which surfaced last week and was reported by The Verge, showcased Sony's technology for AI-driven characters. Sony has not yet responded to IGN's request for comment on the matter.

In the video, which has since been deleted, Sony Interactive Entertainment's director of software engineering, Sharwin Raghoebardajal, engaged in a conversation with AI Aloy. The AI responded to a query about her well-being with, "Hello, I'm managing alright. Just dealing with a sore throat. How have you been?" However, the voice was not Burch's, but a robotic, text-to-speech generated sound. The AI's facial animations were stiff, and her eyes lacked the life typically seen in well-crafted game characters.

The Best PlayStation Character Face-Off

Pick a winner

New duel1ST2ND3RDSee your ResultsFinish playing for your personal results or see the community’s!Continue playingSee results

Burch took to TikTok to share her reaction, confirming she had seen the video and clarifying that Horizon developer Guerrilla had reassured her that the tech demo was not indicative of any ongoing development. It did not utilize any of her performance data, effectively ruling out its use in future projects like the upcoming Horizon multiplayer game or Horizon 3. Despite this, Burch expressed concern about the future of game performance as an art form, especially in light of the ongoing video game voice actors strike.

The strike, led by SAG-AFTRA, has seen significant developments, with the union recently stating progress in negotiations over AI protections but acknowledging a considerable gap in key issues with the industry's bargaining group. Burch emphasized the importance of consent, fair compensation, and transparency in the use of AI doubles, highlighting the potential ramifications for actors if protections are not secured.

"I feel worried not because the technology exists, but because without protections, actors could find themselves without recourse if their performances are used in AI without consent," Burch explained. She stressed her support for the strike and the necessity of fighting to ensure the longevity and integrity of the acting profession within the gaming industry.

Burch pointed out that temporary union contracts are currently available, offering the protections the voice actors are demanding. These contracts, she believes, are crucial for safeguarding the rights of performers.

@ashly.burch let us speak on AI aloy

♬ original sound - Ashly Burch

Generative AI remains a contentious issue within the video game and entertainment industries, with ethical and rights concerns at the forefront. Keywords Studios' failed experiment with an entirely AI-developed game illustrates the technology's limitations. Despite this, companies like Activision have incorporated generative AI into projects like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, sparking debate over its application.

The voice actor strike has already impacted games such as Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft, where certain NPCs have been left unvoiced. Riot's alleged attempt to circumvent the strike by canceling a game and Activision's recasting of characters in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 underscore the ongoing tensions. Additionally, two Zenless Zone Zero voice actors discovered their replacement through patch notes, further highlighting the strike's effects.

Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions and head of product at PlayStation Studios, emphasized the importance of AI in gaming for younger audiences. He noted that personalization and meaningful experiences are highly valued by Gen Z and Gen Alpha gamers, suggesting a potential future direction for AI in game development.