More robots are creeping into gaming (Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Artificial intelligence has the potential to ‘revolutionise’ gaming, according to PlayStation boss Hermen Hulst, but it’s unclear what he’s really talking about.
The rise of artificial intelligence has been a huge issue across the entertainment world, due to its threat to people’s jobs and the quality of its output.
Some companies, like EA, have embraced generative AI as a means to cut down development time, while others, like Nintendo, appear reluctant to use the technology because it might negatively affect what makes the company’s games ‘special’.
PlayStation co-CEO Hermen Hulst has offered his thoughts on the subject, albeit in very vague terms, stating AI has the capacity to ‘revolutionise’ games but that it shouldn’t replace the ‘human touch’.
Speaking to the BBC, Hulst said: ‘I suspect there will be a dual demand in gaming: one for AI-driven innovative experiences and another for handcrafted, thoughtful content. Striking the right balance between leveraging AI and preserving the human touch will be crucial.’
While this buzzword spiel might appease investors, it’s hard to parse what any of that actually means. Where is this ‘dual demand’ coming from? Why is AI being relied upon to create ‘innovative’ content, but not humans? And if games made by actual people are ‘thoughtful’ what does that imply about the AI games?
For a clearer example, PlayStation’s head of productions, Asad Qizilbash, previously cited changes to non-player characters as a specific way AI could improve games.
‘Advancements in AI will create more personalised experiences and meaningful stories for consumers,’ Qizilbash said. ‘For instance, NPCs in games could interact with players based on their actions, making it feel more personal.
‘This is important for the younger Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences, who are the first generations that grew up digitally and are looking for personalisation across everything, as well as looking for experiences to have more meaning.’
While generative AI can help give non-player characters more tailored responses in theory, there’s no guarantee that these will be more immersive than good writing created by an actual human being. If anything, it poses more of a risk of going wrong. (It’s also unclear why Qizibash thinks younger fans would want this but not older players.)
Whether we like it or not, AI is already playing a significant role in game development. Last year, Xbox partnered with AI company Inworld to assist developers on ‘dialogue, story, and quest design’. Presumably in order to ensure future role-playing games are as bland and generic as possible.
Certain games have also utilised AI voice acting, including The Finals. AI poses a significant threat to artists, but there are cases of it being utilised to a good effect. Counter-Strike 2 utilises AI and machine learning tools to identify and ban cheaters, while Activision’s Call Of Duty uses a similar system called Ricochet.
At a time when the games industry is seeing widespread layoffs across the board though, the growing reliance on AI is a disconcerting trend for the future of games at large.
It’s also frustrating that publishers will not talk about it honestly. Ironically, Hulst’s own comments feel like they’ve been written by an AI and are completely lacking in context or examples, with still no clear idea of how Sony is intending to use the technology in the future.
The Finals uses AI in its voiceovers (Embark Studios)
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