The debate over AI-generated voices in video games is heating up, and some of the industry’s most recognizable voices are speaking out. Baldur’s Gate 3 actors Neil Newbon and Samantha Béart have joined the growing resistance against artificial intelligence replacing human voice actors, warning of the long-term damage it could inflict on the gaming industry.
With games like The Finals opting for AI-generated voices instead of hiring real actors, concerns are rising that human performers may be pushed out in favor of cheaper, synthetic alternatives. Now, after a leaked PlayStation tech demo showcased an AI recreation of Horizon Zero Dawn’s protagonist Aloy, those concerns have only deepened.
“Just an Easy Way to Make a Return on Investment”
Speaking to EDGE Magazine, Samantha Béart, the voice of Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3, didn’t mince words about why corporations are turning to AI.
“Essentially, [CEOs pushing AI] just want to save money,” Béart stated. “In the long term, it’ll destroy their reputation, their company, everything.”
Béart also took aim at actors who allow their voices to be used for AI training, arguing that such decisions ultimately hurt their own careers. “Why would you do it? You’ve just signed your way out of any sort of job or career,” she said.
She also criticized the mindset behind AI-driven cost-cutting in gaming: “We have an industry of highly artistic people who’ve had a calling to do this stuff, and then you’ve got these people with money, who don’t play games, who see it as an easy way to make a return on investment.”
AI and the Battle Over Artistic Integrity
Neil Newbon, the voice behind Astarion, is equally vocal about the dangers of AI in creative industries. Having ad-libbed some of the most memorable moments in Baldur’s Gate 3, Newbon is a firm believer that human creativity can’t be replicated by software.
“AI will have deep ramifications across all industries if not ethically regulated by people,” Newbon said. “As an artist, I believe in experiencing life and art through human expression, not software. AI, after all, is built on the work originally created by humans, and there is a fundamental difference between the two.”
Their concerns echo a larger conversation happening across entertainment industries. Hollywood has also seen major pushback against AI-generated performances, with actors and writers lobbying for protections against studios using AI to replace human talent.
When AI Helps vs. When It Hurts
Not all AI voice applications are controversial. Some have been used for deeply personal and powerful reasons. For instance, actor Val Kilmer, who lost his voice to throat cancer, worked with AI technology to regain a synthetic version of his voice, allowing him to continue performing.
However, the line is drawn when AI is used primarily as a cost-cutting measure at the expense of working actors. Béart believes the gaming industry is being driven by the same economic forces that gutted other creative fields.
“The dream of the tech industry is to sell off your company at an overinflated price and retire,” she said. “And I feel that’s being done with game studios right now. It’s the same people who worship at the altar of [former General Electric CEO] Jack Welch, who made loads of money off austerity before the company tanked after his retirement.”
The Human Touch That AI Can’t Replace
One of the biggest reasons Baldur’s Gate 3 resonated so deeply with players was its human performances. From Lae’zel’s voice evolving with her story to Shadowheart’s emotionally layered delivery, the game’s characters felt alive because they were portrayed by real people who understood the nuances of their roles.
Even the now-infamous launch-day romance bug, which made Gale accidentally flirt with almost every player, was a result of complex human-coded systems, not artificial intelligence. That kind of unpredictability—the happy accidents that lead to iconic moments—is something AI struggles to replicate.
For some, AI might seem like a magical shortcut, an easy way to cut corners. But the cost of replacing human actors goes beyond budgets and bottom lines. It’s about preserving the human experience, the trial and error, the skill-building, and the moments of artistic brilliance that no algorithm can manufacture. And if that disappears, so does the soul of gaming.
