Neil Newbon, the actor behind loveable vampire Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3, has some advice for studios who've made big bucks off of games that use generative AI to perform voice lines: go back and do it the right way, idiots.
Talking to PCGN, Newbon didn't mince words one single tiny little bit about the proliferation of generative AI as a replacement for human-voiced dialogue: "fuck AI in performance," he said to thunderous virtual applause.
"I don't think there's a justification for taking people's jobs away," he added. "I don't really think it's legitimate."
While many high-profile game developers and publishers are embracing some level of AI in the production pipeline, replacing human actors with generative AI is still mercifully uncommon, even as games like Arc Raiders take heat for using AI-generated text-to-speech voices. Newbon declined to comment on those instances, but took a hard stance against generative AI for performances.
"If you're going to not record the lines in the first place and just use AI to take somebody's voice and manipulate it however the hell you want, that's a problem," he said. "You're robbing that performer of that day's fee, and you're robbing that performer of the ability to look after themselves or their family - most actors, notoriously, are not rich. Most of us struggle [for] our entire career.
"The justification is difficult. 'Ah, we couldn't really afford it;' well, maybe find a way, now that you've made your money, to go back over those lines and do it better."
Newbon also criticized generative AI directly on its merits, saying AI voices simply "sound crap," "boring," and "dull as hell." In his view, AI-using developers could kill two birds with one stone by going back and paying actors to voice those lines, as doing so would theoretically improve the quality of their games by having real humans evoke real emotions, and send a shot of good will that'll reverberate throughout the industry.
"No matter how advanced it's getting, it still sounds not right," he said. "And I would say to anyone who made a shit ton off of a release that uses generative AI for voices: maybe go back to those actors you paid however much money to clone their voices, maybe get them in the booth and re-record that stuff. Just saying. You've got the money now, spread the wealth. I think it would definitely do a lot of good for the actors, and it would definitely do a lot of good will in the community, because a lot of people have a feeling about this as well. Out of longevity, probably a good idea out of decency, y'know?"
While this undeniably sounds like a good and true and righteous thing to do, my cynical mind can't help but sniff out a pie hanging out high in the sky. A company chasing profit above the livelihoods of actors isn't likely to sympathize much with said actors, but it's a pleasant ideal to contemplate.
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