Ashly Burch, the voice behind Aloy in Horizon Forbidden West, has voiced serious concerns about a recent AI demonstration featuring the character she portrays. The tech demo that was introduced last week, created by PlayStation, showcased an AI-powered version of Aloy capable of responding to player questions in real-time.
The AI Demonstration
First reported by The Verge, the demonstration was developed by Sharwin Raghoebardajal, director of software engineering at PlayStation’s Advanced Technology Group. The project utilized Sony’s proprietary technologies, along with GPT-4 and Llama 3 AI models, to create an interactive version of Aloy capable of engaging in dynamic conversations.
In the now-removed footage, the AI-generated Aloy responded to casual prompts, such as "How are you?" At one point, she even referenced having a sore throat before shifting the conversation to details about the Horizon universe.
Burch Responds
After the footage gained traction, Burch addressed the situation in videos shared on her TikTok. She revealed that Horizon developer Guerrilla Games had reached out to her, assuring that the demo was not part of any active development and that her voice or facial capture data was not used to train the AI model.
While acknowledging that Guerrilla owns Aloy as a character, Burch remains uneasy about the broader implications.
"I feel worried—not about Guerrilla specifically, or Horizon, or my career. I feel worried about this art form – game performance as an art form."
The SAG-AFTRA Strike & AI Concerns
Burch then talks about the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, where AI replication has been a major point of contention. Voice actors are fighting for basic protections regarding AI-generated versions of their performances. She said:
"What we are fighting for is consent, fair compensation, and transparency."
She isn’t against AI technology itself but fears a future where actors lose control over their own voices and likenesses.
"I imagine a video like this emerging with someone's actual performance attached—without their consent, without their ability to fight back. That’s the future we’re trying to prevent."
Industry-Wide Concerns
Burch is not alone in these concerns. Several high-profile voice actors have spoken out against AI replication:
Roger Clark (Red Dead Redemption 2) and Ned Luke (GTA 5) have objected to AI recreations of their performances, even in parody content.
In September 2024, veteran actress Jennifer Hale warned that "AI is coming for all of us," reflecting growing fears within the industry.
Looking Ahead
Burch concluded her message with a hopeful yet urgent plea for the future of video game performances.
"I love this industry, and I want future generations of actors to thrive. I want more incredible game performances. But if we don’t win this fight, that future is in jeopardy."
As AI technology continues to evolve, the outcome of the SAG-AFTRA strike could set a critical precedent for the rights and protections of performers in gaming and beyond.
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