Troy Baker, the prolific voice actor behind a wide array of video game roles, says the AI revolution is a good thing — but not for the reasons people might expect. In a recent interview with The Game Business, Baker framed generative AI as a force that could push audiences toward authentic experiences crafted by human artists rather than the algorithmic output often associated with AI. He acknowledges that AI can produce content faster and, in some cases, with technical efficiency, but he makes a clear distinction between content and art.
AI can make content way better than humans and can crank it out no problem, Baker argues, but he stresses that what AI creates is content, not art. The human experience — the lived, personal, and imperfect elements that ground meaningful work — remains essential to true art. According to Baker, there is a fundamental premise behind art that often goes overlooked: it requires artists. Rather than demonizing AI, he says, the industry should acknowledge its presence and consider how it can coexist with human creativity.
From a business perspective, Baker concedes that AI poses threats, but he also sees potential upside for artists if the technology is used to complement rather than replace them. He describes theAI’s emergence as a “birth” of a burgeoning industry that could ultimately drive people toward authentic experiences. “What I see happening is that this birth of AI, and this burgeoning industry of it, is actually going to drive people to the authentic,” Baker said. “And we’re going to see opportunities of, ‘I want to go and watch this person sing this song live.’ I want to see theater. I want to read books. I want to have this first-hand experience as opposed to the gruel that gets distilled to me through a black mirror.’ I think that it’s a good thing. It’s a revolution.”
The conversation arrives amid a broader debate over AI’s role in game production and the entertainment industry at large. AI-generated voices have become a hot-button topic in recent years, notably in the wake of labor actions around SAG-AFTRA. Embark Studios, the developer behind Arc Raiders, has publicly used AI to generate NPC voices, highlighting how studios are integrating artificial voices into living worlds even as actors push for protections in dealings with AI.
Beyond the industry’s internal use of AI, high-profile actors have licensed AI usage of their voices. Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine have signed deals that allow AI to replicate their vocal likenesses in certain contexts, adding another layer to the ongoing negotiations about consent, compensation, and control. Meanwhile, despite James Earl Jones’s passing in 2024, an AI version of the Darth Vader voice actor surfaced in Fortnite last year, generating headlines after players attempted to coax the AI into saying controversial lines. Baker, who is a SAG-AFTRA member, has become part of the larger public discussion about how AI should interact with performers’ livelihoods.
On the creative front, Baker’s recent acting work includes portraying Indiana Jones in MachineGames’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Harrison Ford himself praised Baker’s performance, noting that it did not require AI to achieve its impact. The exchange underscores a central tension in the culture debate: AI can augment production and expand possibilities, but the value of a performer’s lived experience remains a critical benchmark for artistic legitimacy.
Taken together, Baker’s perspective frames AI as a catalyst for a pivot toward authenticity in entertainment. The dialogue around AI is not merely about automation; it’s about how technology can coexist with human artistry to amplify genuine, experience-driven work. For fans and practitioners, the takeaway is clear: the future of games and media may hinge less on replacing human creators and more on enriching their ability to connect audiences with real, emotionally resonant moments. In that sense, the AI revolution might indeed be a catalyst for a more human-centered culture in gaming and beyond.