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

Voice actor Ashly Burch, known for her role as Aloy in the popular PlayStation games Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, recently addressed a leaked tech demo that showcased an AI imitation of her performance as the character. In a video posted on TikTok and later shared on Instagram, Burch expressed her concerns not only for the future of the game franchise and her own career but also for the entire profession of game performance.

The leaked footage, originally from an internal presentation by Sony’s PlayStation Studios, featured an AI-generated version of Aloy awkwardly responding to questions. Despite assurances from Guerilla Games, the developers of “Horizon,” that the demo did not represent any active development and did not involve Burch’s voice or facial data, the use of AI technology in this manner was distressing for Burch and other voice actors.

Burch highlighted the ongoing strike led by SAG-AFTRA against the game industry since July 2024, aimed at securing protections for performers in the face of advancing AI technology. She emphasized the importance of obtaining consent, fair compensation, and transparency regarding the use of AI replicas of performers.

The timing of the tech demo during the strike was deemed insensitive by Burch, who underscored the need for safeguards to prevent the unauthorized use of performers’ likenesses by AI. Without these protections, performers risk having their identities exploited without recourse.

In the midst of this debate, Burch’s message is clear: the issue is not the technology itself but the lack of safeguards for performers in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in entertainment. The conversation surrounding AI in performance capture continues to evolve, with implications for the future of the industry and the rights of actors.