With Family Approval, CD Projekt Uses AI to Sub for Late Voice Actor in Cyberpunk 2077

In Cyberpunk 2077, video game developer CD Projekt used AI to replicate the voice of the deceased Polish actor Mi?ogost Reczek after receiving approval from his family. Reczek, who notably provided the Polish dub for Homer Simpson in The Simpsons Movie and voiced characters in The Witcher games, passed away in December 2021 at the age of 60. He was also known as the voice behind Dr. Viktor Vektor in Cyberpunk 2077. For the latest expansion in the game, Phantom Liberty, his voice was recreated using advanced AI technology. Miko?aj Szwed, CD Projekt's localization director, said they chose this method to honor Reczek’s stellar performance rather than replacing him with a new actor. However, the use of AI for replacing voice actors has sparked concerns within the acting community. The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) recently entertained the possibility of a strike, part of which linked to threatening advancements in AI technology in the industry. The guild members are seeking to safeguard their roles from potential replacement by AI technology. Despite the disputes and ongoing strike actions, the entertainment industry’s use of generative AI is expanding. Notably, Disney used AI to replace the late actors Peter Cushing and Carrie Fisher in the Star Wars franchise, and to digitally de-age Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford in Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies respectively. Pawel Sasko, CD Projekt's Lead Quest Designer, has compared AI to tools like Photoshop. He argues that it’s just another tool for the industry to adapt to and leverage for enhancing productivity and game development.