Voice Actor for Aloy in “Horizon” Games Creeped Out by AI Version of Her Character

Voice Actor Ashly Burch Speaks Out on AI Imitation Concerns

Ashly Burch, the talented voice behind Aloy in the acclaimed PlayStation titles Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, recently shared her thoughts on a leaked tech demo that featured an AI-generated imitation of her character. In a video that made waves on TikTok and was subsequently shared on Instagram, Burch raised her apprehensions about the implications for both her career and the future of the gaming industry, as well as the broader field of voice acting.

The controversial footage, which originated from an internal presentation by Sony’s PlayStation Studios, showcased an AI version of Aloy responding to questions in a somewhat awkward manner. Although Guerilla Games, the studio responsible for the “Horizon” series, assured that the demo did not reflect any current development efforts and did not utilize Burch’s voice or facial data, the use of AI in this context still unsettled Burch and her fellow voice actors.

Burch pointed out the ongoing strike led by SAG-AFTRA against the gaming sector since July 2024, which is focused on securing essential protections for performers amid the rapid advancements in AI technology. She stressed the necessity of ensuring that performers have a say in the use of their likenesses, receive fair compensation, and maintain clarity regarding how AI replicas are utilized.

Furthermore, Burch criticized the timing of the tech demo’s release during the strike, labeling it as insensitive. She emphasized the critical need for safeguards to protect performers from the unauthorized use of their likenesses by AI systems. In the absence of such protections, there’s a significant risk that performers might have their identities exploited without any means of recourse.

Amidst this ongoing discourse, Burch’s message is unambiguous: the concern lies not with the technology itself, but with the inadequate protections for performers in the swiftly changing realm of AI in entertainment. As the dialogue surrounding AI in performance capture continues to develop, it carries profound implications for the industry’s future and the rights of actors.