Horizon series voice actress Ashly Burch has responded to the leaked AI Aloy demonstration video by highlighting the ongoing concerns of striking voice actors regarding AI protections.
As first reported by The Verge, an internal Sony video surfaced last week showcasing AI technology featuring Aloy from the Horizon franchise as a conversational character. Sony has not responded to IGN's requests for clarification.
The now-removed footage showed Sony Interactive Entertainment director Sharwin Raghoebardajal engaging with an AI-driven Aloy through voice commands, with system-generated speech and facial animations. When asked how she was doing, the digital Aloy responded with an unnatural voice: "Hello, I'm managing alright. Just dealing with a sore throat. How have you been?"
The synthesized voice clearly differed from Burch's natural performance, resembling robotic text-to-speech output. The character's facial animations appeared rigid, with notably lifeless eye movements during the exchange.
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Burch, who has portrayed Aloy across all four Horizon titles (including Zero Dawn, Forbidden West, Call of the Mountain, and Lego Horizon Adventures), confirmed via TikTok that developer Guerrilla contacted her to clarify the demo wasn't part of active development nor utilized any of her performance data. This likely excludes AI implementation for upcoming Horizon projects, though Burch noted Sony retains full rights to the character.
The actress expressed concern about AI's impact on performance artistry, connecting the incident to wider SAG-AFTRA strike negotiations regarding AI protections for voice actors.
Recent SAG-AFTRA updates indicate persistent disagreement with industry negotiators over key AI safeguards, despite some negotiation progress.
"We're fighting for basic protections: consent before creating digital replicas, fair compensation, and transparency about AI usage," Burch explained. "My concern isn't the technology itself, but rather what happens if we lose these protections. Future performers could have no recourse against unauthorized digital reproductions."
Burch emphasized her support for temporary union contracts currently available to studios, which include all requested protections. "I believe in safeguarding this career we love," she stated, while clarifying her criticism targeted systemic issues rather than specific companies.
@ashly.burch let us speak on AI aloy
♬ original sound - Ashly Burch
The gaming industry's increasing AI adoption continues generating controversy amid ongoing ethical debates and technological limitations. Keywords Studios' recent failed AI-only game experiment demonstrated current technical shortcomings, yet major publishers like Activision persist in AI implementation, as seen in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 asset creation.
Strike impacts are becoming increasingly visible, with games like Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft featuring unvoiced NPCs. Recent cases involve Zenless Zone Zero voice actors discovering recasting through patch notes, while Riot Games faced allegations of strike circumvention.
PlayStation executive Asad Qizilbash recently defended AI's role in meeting younger generations' expectations for personalized experiences, suggesting dynamic NPC interactions as a potential application that resonates with Gen Z and Alpha players.
