cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/40224994
I just found out that Embark used genAI to replace recalling it’s voice actors. And I am devastated. It was my GOTY and now I’m boycotting it. To the point that I decided to be vocal about it.
I don’t want any AI (not talking about machine learning for the way the Arcs move, I’m talking about the voice actors being replaced) in the work of art that I think are the video games I play.
To game developers: Stop using AI in your video games!
Je viens de découvrir que Embark a utilisé de l’IA générative pour remplacer ses acteurs. Et franchement je suis tellement déçu. C’était clairement mon GOTY, et maintenant je me retrouve à boycotter tout ça, au point de carrément en faire des posts pour toucher le plus de monde possible.
Je ne veux aucune IA (et attention, je ne parle pas du machine learning utilisé pour les déplacements des Arcs) dans les oeuvres d’art que je consomme.
Aux développeurs: Arrêtez d’utiliser de l’IA dans les jeux vidéos !
I’m admittedly ignorant of all of this, but I’ll post my thoughts anyway:
If the AI is trained on their voice and that AI is available to other studios (like leasing or buying it from the original company), the one time payment for that actor’s work is a very very shit deal. They’re out of a job in multiple places or for multiple works now since it can be reused for many things.
I doubt that the contract says it’s only used for that one singular project. Companies are sneaky. However, I have not read said contracts so it’s a magical guess on my part.
AI voice training is literally handing the means of production to capitalists
I also hope Embark do the right thing and get VAs back in to voice quests and cut scenes.
Use the generated voice for items and locations only. Maybe, as an emergency, for continuity.
I guess it gives them unbelievable leverage over the VAs: “We are offering you $10 to do 4 hours of voice lines. Or we will just use the model we have already trained”.
Which then puts even more downwards pressure on VA wages.
I bet Embark has made bank, and it would be a massive PR win to get the VAs back in at an industry standard rate to do the quests and cutscenes.