- Leaked recordings from within Sony Interactive Entertainment showed an AI-driven character
- Horizon’s Aloy was used as a prototype, utilization of Openai Tech
- This may be a tip for the future use of AI in PlayStation play
Future PlayStation games could have generative AI-driven characters if this leak is something to pass by.
A video posted by X (formerly Twitter) uses Oliver Darko shows what seems to be leaked footage of a presentation of Sharwin Raghoebardajal, a director of Software Engineering at Sony Interactive Entertainment, discussing work on an AI prototype as part of Sony’s PlayStation Studios Advanced Technology Group.
The recordings (unfortunately it is not available to integrate) showed raghoebardajal interacting with an AI-driven Aloy from Horizon series; It seems that this prototype is created using developer gerilia games.
Raghoebardajal asks this AI Alyo “How are you?” And after a break, she replies, complete with accurate facial moments that she is in order but “employs you with a sore throat”. The interaction feels a bit strange and a little ‘creepy valley’, but demonstrates generative AI in action.
The conversation then develops to Raghoebardajal and asks for the prerequisite for Horizon series and – *spoilers to Horizon Zero Dawn* – How Aloy feels about being a clone. She responds that it is a unique feeling.
The Verge gained access to the full video and reiterated that the prototype is using Openais Whisper Specech-to-Text Tech, Sony’s own emotional voice synthesis to generate a somewhat realistic voice, and large linguistic models GPT-4 and Llama 3 to run AI Aloy’s decision making.
While this is largely a prototype and has some clear obstacles to overcome, such as faster answers and less styled speech, it is an interesting demonstration of how AI Tech could be used into play.
This is just a glimpse of what is possible, ”said Raghoebardajal, reported The Verge.
A new horizon for AI in play?
The natural reaction to this technique would be a concern that generative AI could be used to potentially replace voice actors and writers in the gaming industry. Although I think it is a legitimate concern worthy of deeper discussion and control, it sees from this demo not as a generative AI is everywhere near the task of replacing the quality of speech and narrative provided by human development team, certainly not for AAA games.
However, much like Horizon Call of the Mountain was used as an advanced showcase for all the features of PSVR 2, which is a scope that the same approach could be used to create a spin-out game or a virtual experience using AI and Horizon Setting.
I could imagine a short -lived experience where you visit a handful of small hubs across both Horizon Games and interacts with their inhabitants who use generative AI -Tech to answer questions and earn observations.
Likewise in view of the extensive lore in Horizon Universe, I could see an AI-driven Aloy used as a form of in-game or app-based companion to earn information about certain parts of the world or how to tackle some of the robot enemies.
I know from my experience of taking some of the larger dinosaur -like machines in Horizon Forbidden West I could have done with someone or something that directs me about what to target instead of quickly scanning for vulnerable parts, while I desperately avoided nervous accurate, health decor attacks.
Of course, Sony seems to be very much on the experimental phase here, and I doubt we will see a river of AI in the PS5 game anytime soon. But I would also be surprised if AI was not used in PlayStation games further down the line, says when the PS6 arrives.
