‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ Actor Neil Newbon Warns of AI’s Impact on the Games Industry
The rise of AI in voice acting has sparked concern among actors in the video game industry. Neil Newbon, known for his roles in Baldur’s Gate 3 and Resident Evil, has spoken out about the dangers of AI replacing human performers.
AI-generated voices have been a major topic, especially with the ongoing SAG-AFTRA video game strikes. One of the key demands of the strike is protecting actors from unauthorized AI replications of their voices. Large companies are looking into ways to use AI instead of hiring voice actors, which many in the industry see as a serious problem.
Recently, a leaked Sony demo showed an AI-generated version of Aloy, the main character from the Horizon series. The demo was widely criticized for its poor quality. Although Aloy’s original voice actress, Ashly Burch, confirmed that her performance data was not used, she still expressed concern. She worries about how AI could affect the future of game performances, calling it a threat to “game performance as an art form.”
Newbon shares these concerns, he warned, “AI will have deep ramifications across all industries if not ethically regulated by people.“
AI-generated content is still in its early stages, and there are few regulations in place. Many AI voice programs rely on data from human performances, raising ethical questions about ownership and consent. While AI-generated voices often sound unnatural and unconvincing, the fact that companies are experimenting with them is troubling.
Newbon believes that human creativity should remain at the heart of artistic expression. He stated, “As an artist, I believe in experiencing life and art through human expression, not software… AI, after all, is built on the work originally created by humans, and there is a fundamental difference between the two.”
As AI technology continues to advance, the gaming industry must decide how to balance innovation with ethical concerns. For now, actors like Newbon and Burch are speaking out, hoping to ensure that human voices remain essential in video games.
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