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A leaked internal video has revealed that Sony is experimenting with AI-powered PlayStation characters. The Verge reported on the emergence of an internal video allegedly created by PlayStation Studios' advanced technology group, showcasing Aloy from the Horizon games as an example of AI-powered game characters.

The video was subsequently pulled from YouTube following a copyright claim from Muso, an internet enforcement company. The Verge noted that Muso lists Sony Interactive Entertainment as a client, suggesting the video's legitimacy. IGN has reached out to Sony for comment.

In the video, as reported by The Verge, Sony Interactive Entertainment's director of software engineering, Sharwin Raghoebardajal, engages in a conversation with an AI-powered Aloy through voice prompts and AI-generated speech and facial animations. The technology used includes OpenAI’s Whisper for speech-to-text, GPT-4 and Llama 3 for conversational AI and decision-making, Sony’s Emotional Voice Synthesis (EVS) system for speech synthesis, and Sony’s Mockingbird technology for facial animation.

In the tech demo, Raghoebardajal asks Aloy how she's doing, to which she responds, "Hello, I'm managing alright. Just dealing with a sore throat. How have you been?" The voice heard from Aloy's mouth is not that of voice actor Ashly Burch, who voices the character in the video games, but rather a robotic voice similar to those generated by text-to-speech systems. AI Aloy's facial movements appear stiff, and her eyes look lifeless during the conversation.

When asked about her search for her mother, Aloy replies, "I discovered I'm a clone of Dr. Elizabeth Sobeck, which led me to understand my purpose and origins." In response to a question about how it feels to be a clone, she says, "Being a clone feels unique, connecting me to the past while allowing me to create my own path and future."

The demo then transitions into the Horizon Forbidden West game world, where Raghoebardajal continues the conversation while playing. The juxtaposition of the player conversing with a character they control is slightly jarring, and the use of Aloy as an AI-powered character adds an ironic twist given the plot of the Horizon games.

The demo is described as a prototype developed with the help of Horizon studio Guerrilla Games to showcase the technology internally at Sony. “This is just a glimpse of what is possible,” Raghoebardajal states in the video. While the video indicates Sony's investment in exploring AI-powered PlayStation characters, the company has yet to confirm plans to incorporate this technology into any public-facing PlayStation products. It's also unclear if such technology could be integrated into PS5 games at this stage.

Given that competitors like Microsoft, with its AI called Muse designed to generate game design ideas, are also investing in AI technology, Sony's behind-the-scenes work is not surprising. Generative AI is a hot topic in both the video game and entertainment industries, which have faced significant layoffs recently. However, generative AI has faced criticism from players and creators due to ethical and rights issues, as well as its struggle to produce content that audiences enjoy. For example, Keywords Studios attempted to create an experimental game using entirely AI, but it failed, citing to investors that AI was "unable to replace talent."

EA has emphasized that AI is "the very core" of its business, while Capcom is experimenting with generative AI to create the "hundreds of thousands" of ideas needed for in-game environments. Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions and head of product at PlayStation Studios, highlighted the importance of AI in video games for Gen Z and Gen Alpha gamers, who seek personalization and meaningful experiences. He noted that non-player characters could interact with players based on their actions, enhancing the personal feel of the game.

Activision recently admitted to using generative AI for some Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 assets following a backlash to an "AI slop" zombie Santa loading screen.