“It will destroy their reputation.” Samantha Béart, the actress behind Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3, believes the growing dependence on AI could lead the gaming industry into crisis. She slams executives who treat artificial intelligence as nothing more than a quick way to recover investments.
The debate around AI in game development continues to ignite controversy, and it’s not slowing down. As studios increasingly adopt machine learning tools to streamline production and cut costs, more and more professionals are raising red flags. Voice actors and motion capture performers, in particular, are speaking out against the use of AI to mimic their likeness, voice, and performances. Samantha Béart, who portrayed Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3, sees it all as a cold, calculated cost-saving measure with dire long-term consequences.
“In the end, it’ll wreck everything”
Speaking to Edge magazine (via GamesRadar+), Béart pulls no punches when criticizing the shift toward AI in the industry. “At the heart of it, the executives pushing AI just want to save money,” she explains. “Eventually, it’s going to ruin their brand, their company, everything they’ve built.” Béart warns that while cutting corners might look smart on paper, game companies are alienating the very people who breathe life into their stories—and those creatives are not backing down. She insists the fight for job security in AI-augmented projects has only just begun.
“This is an industry filled with deeply creative individuals who were chosen for their artistry,” Béart adds. “On the other side, you’ve got investors and executives who don’t even play games and just see AI as a shortcut to profits.” For her, these two sides are fundamentally incompatible. “It’s oil and water,” she says. “The tech industry dream is to pump up your company’s value and cash out—and I think that’s exactly what’s happening with game studios right now.”
Assassin’s Creed Actress Offers a Different Take on AI
Not everyone agrees with Béart’s pessimism. Masumi Tsunoda, who plays Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, views AI through a more optimistic lens. She believes that the technology, despite the risks, won’t erase the creativity of human artists. While she acknowledges the lack of regulation is a concern, Tsunoda sees the moment as an opportunity. “Our creative voices can’t be silenced by AI,” she says. “If anything, this might be a turning point to show what humans are truly capable of.”
Source: GamesRadar+
