Like most big tech companies, Sony has been experimenting with generative AI tools, and a leaked internal demo has come under scrutiny from enthusiasts.
As reported by The Verge, Sony has been working on technology that allows game characters to respond directly to speech from the player and engage in conversation. A video of this AI prototype, which features Horizon’s Aloy as an example, was leaked to the publication via an anonymous tipster; this has since been taken down, though not before mirrors and clips were created:
Shown off by SIE’s Sharwin Raghoebardajal, the prototype, intended purely as an internal demonstration of the technology, sees the AI-powered Aloy respond to questions and prompts, able to engage in a direct back and forth with the user.
The video features Aloy both outside and inside the game world of Horizon Forbidden West; while in the game, she’s able to answer contextual questions about her surroundings in order to aid the player.
The prototype is running on PC, but experiments on PS5 show it could be implemented with “little overhead”.
What’s clear is that this AI tech, at least in the guise presented in the leaked video, is far from being in a state ready to be implemented into games. The placeholder AI voice and facial animations give Aloy a surreal, uncanny quality that’s jarring to say the least.
It throws the doors open to various questions. What impact might this tech have on game development? What might this mean for Ashly Burch, who has portrayed the character throughout the series so far?
Is it not extremely ironic for Sony to utilise Aloy, a character destined to fight back against rogue AI, in a demo of this technology?
Would players want or need to speak to a character they’re controlling? And if they are speaking to the player character, does that completely torpedo the idea of role-play in RPGs like Horizon?
Of course, this is about more than just Guerrilla’s series; theoretically, this tech could eventually wind up in many of Sony’s first-party titles, if it gets far enough.
As mentioned, Sony is far from the only company experimenting with AI in game dev; Microsoft’s Muse technology, which is primarily intended to help developers iterate on ideas, was recently revealed.
Many bigwigs at publishers like Sony, EA, and others have commented about the potential benefits AI could have on development. SIE’s Hermen Hulst said AI won’t replace the human touch in game dev.
While there’s value to be found in using AI tools in the right ways, so-called “AI slop” is amply demonstrating how harmful it can be. Low quality games featuring AI-generated assets, sometimes even ripping off the work of indie studios, have been populating PS Store of late, and what’s more, Sony is promoting them on social media.
Making matters worse is Activision’s baffling AI-generated artwork created to promote games that don’t exist, like new Crash Bandicoot and Guitar Hero titles.
Anyway, whether anything really comes of Sony’s experiments with AI-powered characters remains to be seen. In the meantime, what do you think? Tell us in the comments section below.
