Voice Actors in Video Games Consider Options Amidst the Rise of AI Voice Cloning

In the realm of video games, characters with distinct vocal styles, such as a goblin with a Cockney accent or a gruff Scottish blacksmith, are integral to the immersive experience. These voices may soon be coming from AI-generated clones, not solely from actors like Andy Magee, who could be heard voicing various characters across gaming universes.

Magee's voice, however, might not be authentic in all cases. Instead, it might be a clone— a synthetic reproduction crafted by artificial intelligence (AI). As video game environments grow increasingly complex and massive, some developers are turning to AI to voice an infinite cast of virtual characters, also cutting costs on placeholder voice recordings often used in game development.

Mixed Reactions from Voice Actors

Not all voice actors are enthusiastic about AI voice cloning. Concerns exist that AI could supplant human talent, especially if widespread adoption by big studios occurs. However, certain actors like Magee express a willingness to work with AI, provided that compensation is fair and their vocal likenesses are not misused or exploited.

For Magee, originally from Northern Ireland, the leap into voice acting for AI was unexpected. Despite his diverse background, which includes work as a brewery manager and farmer, he's transitioned into voice acting, utilizing his ability to perform various British accents, once a mere party trick, as a lucrative skill.

The ethical use of AI voice clones remains a significant point of contention. The technology has sparked concerns due to its association with deepfakes and unauthorized usage, leading to the misrepresentation of real individuals in various media. Actors and gamers alike have voiced criticism over some gaming applications that did not seek actor consent for voice usage.

Major studios have been relatively cautious with AI voice deployment, preferring to engage in negotiations with actors' unions like SAG-AFTRA, which stands for the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, to establish fair use guidelines.

Industry Outlook and Agreements

Actor Sarah Elmaleh, with roles in 'Fortnite' and other games, has taken a cautious but open-minded stance towards the use of AI voices. She recognizes that AI can sometimes play a helpful yet invisible role during production.

SAG-AFTRA has taken proactive steps, recently striking a deal with Replica Studios. This agreement exemplifies a balanced approach to AI, allowing voice actors to contribute to digital voice replicas under specific terms and preventing limitless use of their voices.

Replica Studios' CEO, Shreyas Nivas, emphasizes ethical business practices, licensing character voices for a set time and obtaining actor consent for cloning, countering the trend of unauthorized data harvesting from the web.

Magee found opportunities through this ethical framework, creating AI voice replicas for different characters and finding that this has led to acting roles not involving AI.

Zeke Alton, a SAG-AFTRA committee member with credits in games like 'Call of Duty', sees the practical applications of AI in gaming. He acknowledges the difficulty of populating expansive game worlds with unique character voices while maintaining reasonable production costs.

Alton also supports using AI as a tool to ease physically demanding aspects of voice and motion capture work. His view is that AI should not be opposed outright but rather integrated in a way that respects and preserves human artistry.

voiceacting, gaming, artificialintelligence