AI takes over: Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and the drama surrounding voice actors

Well, it was only a matter of time before voice actors and actresses ended up on the list of endangered professions. And if there's anyone who can make sure that happens faster, it's Activision. With "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6", the plug has now finally been pulled - not only on the characters, but apparently also on the real people behind them. Who needs stars and professionals when you have an AI that is cheaper, faster and (supposedly) just as good?

The Rumor mill bubbling over this monthwhen players noticed that the voices of some characters in "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6" sounded strangely ... synthetic listened to. With William Peck and Samantha Maxis in particular, it was noticeable that something wasn't quite right. The highlight: Samantha became the AI "S.A.M." without further ado, which is almost ironic. Fans immediately suspected that voice actors Zeke Alton and Julie Nathanson might have been replaced by AI - and surprise: they were right. Or at least half right.

Activision: "New cast members? Um...maybe."

Activision finally confirmed that there were replacements, but without really going into detail. According to a statement, the company "respects" the actors' decisions and has nothing else to say - apart from the obligatory PR blather about ongoing negotiations with the actors' union SAG-AFTRA, in which the actors are apparently participating in solidarity and letting their actual jobs slide.

Zeke Alton, on the other hand, let it be known that he does not believe that the new voice of William Peck is actually human. "It's not [my performance], but who knows if it was anyone else"he said in an interview with Game Developer. Does this mean that Activision has actually used AI to imitate a human voice? It's not officially confirmed, of course, but hey - the voices in trailers and in the game suddenly sound different. Coincidence?

The new reality: replaceable, cheap and anonymous

It wouldn't be the first time Activision has turned fans against itself, but this one somehow feels more ... definitive. With the advance of AI technology, it's becoming increasingly clear that no one is truly safe - neither from technology nor from corporate austerity. And while Activision dutifully claims that everything is above board, a bitter aftertaste remains: what does this mean for the future of voice actors, actors and us as consumers?

Only time will tell whether AI really is a worthy replacement solution or simply a cheap trick to save costs. The most common criticism is that AI cannot simulate human emotions, but even that is probably only a matter of time. One thing is certain: If, at some point, we are going to move away from William Peck in "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7" and welcome "Wil-LI.am Bot" instead, we can at least remember how it used to be - when there were still real people behind the voices. How nostalgic.