Horizon Actress Ashly Burch Voices Concerns Over AI-Generated Aloy

Ashly Burch, known for bringing Aloy to life in Horizon Forbidden West, recently shared her thoughts on a new AI-driven character model demo from PlayStation, stirring quite the conversation in the gaming community.

This buzz-worthy video, highlighted by The Verge, was crafted by Sharwin Raghoebardajal, who leads software engineering at PlayStation’s Advanced Technology Group. It featured Aloy responding to player interactions using a blend of Sony’s tech, GPT-4, and Llama 3.

Burch took to Instagram to voice her thoughts, revealing that Guerrilla Games, the minds behind Horizon, clarified to her that this cutting-edge showcase isn’t reflective of their current projects. They assured her that none of Burch’s own performance nuances were utilized in training the AI model. Still, Burch couldn’t help but express her bigger concerns.

“I’m really anxious, and not just for myself, Guerrilla, Horizon, or even my career,” she noted. “It’s this art form I’m worried about,” she emphasized, spotlighting the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike primarily fueled by AI issues.

Burch made it clear: the union demands companies seek approval and offer fair compensation when they replicate actors with AI. Transparency in usage is paramount.

“It’s not the existence of the technology that worries me,” Burch elaborated. “Naturally, game companies will gravitate towards new tech. However, envision a scenario where an AI model carries someone’s true performance—their voice, their mannerisms. What if we can’t defend it? No legal shield, no way to contest it.” Such a situation deeply unsettles Burch.

The very thought brings her dismay and fear. Burch is passionate about gaming and the future of its acting talent. “There’s room for more remarkable performances,” she insists, and a risk of losing this battle could compromise that growth.

Besides her iconic role as Aloy, Burch is celebrated for her portrayal of Tiny Tina in Borderlands and Chloe Price in Life is Strange. She’s actively involved in Critical Role and the Apple TV series Mythic Quest, adding more feathers to her cap.

As the gaming industry dives deeper into AI, there’s no pause in sight for big players exploring its potential. Yet, this broad usage of the term “AI” muddles discourse, especially with generative models making headlines.

Microsoft made waves with its introduction of Copilot for Gaming, a digital guide for Xbox users to enhance their gaming experience by simplifying game installations and providing strategic insights.

Muse, another revelation from Microsoft, promises to generate quick, low-res gameplay bites that adapt in real-time, aimed at streamlining content brainstorming and testing.

On a similar note, Activision had to come clean about using generative AI, something gamers speculated due to recent Steam disclosures.

As someone captivated by the narratives in gaming and the stellar performances that enrich them, I find Burch’s concerns resonating deeply.

I hold out hope that actors can secure agreements ensuring AI use of their roles is just and rewarded accordingly. Despite the challenges, the journey seems daunting, but it’s a cause worth championing.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and Horizon Forbidden West await players on Windows PC and PlayStation 5, showcasing just how far gaming storytelling has come.