Summary
- Fortnite’s AI Darth Vader has kicked off a debate about the ethics of replicating an actor’s voice, as Epic has with James Earl Jones.
- Some argue that this is a slippery slope to other actors being replaced by AI.
- Others point out that Jones agreed to this prior to his death, and his family gave the project their blessing.
Edit 11pm BST: This article has been amended to include Epic’s response to a viral video of the Darth Vader AI using inappropriate language.
If you’ve spent a few minutes online over the past 24 hours, you are no doubt aware that Fortnite has an AI-powered Darth Vader in the game right now. While the feature is live, players can chat with Vader, and he will respond in character. Or, well… as in character as he can be while apparently being aware of what Family Guy is.
However, it has also kicked off a debate on the ethics of AI implementation in video games, due to the fact that Darth Vader’s lines are generated from the voice of his longtime actor, James Earl Jones. Some feel that this is a positive example of the technology, since it was created with the permission of Jones’ family. However, others feel that it is disrespectful to both Jones and the craft as a whole, considering that many actors are currently fighting to stop generative AI from taking up acting jobs.
AI Darth Vader Sparks Debate On Generative AI
On one side of the debate, some argue that generative AI like this is always bad, no matter the circumstances. Most of those who take this stance highlight how it could hurt other actors, since big companies like Epic would find it appealing to replace them with AI if it costs less to pull off. So, starting with an actor who passed away could just be a sign of things to come.
“Everything is AI now I hate it so much,” says Twitter user @M1das_OW2. “Oh did you see the new fortnite Ai of a dead mans voice nono it’s funny he says family guy and slurs I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE.”
Others highlight that actors might be reluctant to work with Epic now, since many of them are vocally against generative AI being used in projects they’re associated with. “The Darth Vader AI s**t is probably going to be the reason we don’t get anymore voice acted story quests,” says @FNPosting. “The whole reason the VA strike is going on right now is because of this exact kind of shit and Epic is fully embracing it.”
This refers to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike against the gaming industry. One of the companies listed in the dispute is Epic Games, so SAG-AFTRA members will not work with the studio until it has agreed to protect actors against having their work stolen and used in generative AI.
However, some take a very different stance. On the other side of the debate, it’s highlighted that Jones himself agreed to have his voice used this way prior to his death, since he retired from playing Darth Vader in 2022.
“James Earl Jones willingly signed for his Darth Vader voice to be used for AI-generated voice-overs,” says @InternTerry. “People are tripping out as if it’s a crime and not seeing the endless potential for generations of movies, shows, and content.”
Jones’ family has also given the project their blessing. “James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he always wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it,” they said. “We hope that this collaboration with Fortnite will allow both longtime fans of Darth Vader and newer generations to share in the enjoyment of this iconic character.”
With all of that said, it’s hard to argue that the result has been respectful to Jones. Within hours of AI Vader going live, players managed to get him to swear, use slurs, and make racist remarks. Clips of this are flooding social media, dominating much of the conversation. Epic has responded to one of these clips, saying that a fix has been rolled out and this shouldn’t happen anymore.
Fortnite
- Released
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September 26, 2017
- ESRB
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T for Teen – Violence
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5