The Generative AI Revolution

By now, you’re familiar with generative AI and its potential impact on virtually every industry out there, including game development. While artificial intelligence itself isn’t new, its use as a generative content creation tool has exploded in recent months. Just recently, Unity announced its new generative AI toolset is currently in beta. Using advanced machine learning techniques, generative AI can create new and unique content based on existing data. This has many potential applications in game development and content creation in general, from creating new game assets to generating entire worlds, but is not without criticism.

Potential Applications of Generative AI in Game Development

One potential application of generative AI in game development is faster content creation. Procedural generation, the process of creating game content algorithmically, rather than manually, allows developers to create massive and dynamic game worlds with relatively little effort.

With generative AI, procedural generation can be taken to the next level to create NPCs (nonplayer characters) that realistically interact with players, generate levels, create VFX, and more. Inworld AI is among a few companies working on exactly this.

Improve Game Design Tools and Workflows

By training AI models on existing game assets, AI can learn to generate new and unique assets for any particular style or genre. Game developers can quickly and efficiently generate assets without the need for manual creation or outsourcing, saving time and resources so they can focus on other aspects of game development.

Generative AI Can Personalize Game Experiences

Personalized and adaptive game experiences are also possible with generative AI. Analyzing player data, AI algorithms can learn about individual player preferences and habits. This information can then be used to recommend customized in-game experiences, content, challenges, and rewards, improving player engagement and the overall experience.

These are just a few general use cases; there are numerous possibilities.

Criticism of Generative AI

There’s justifiable anxiety about AI replacing people and widespread use of generative AI exploiting creators’ work if used without permission. Critics have also voiced concerns about proper creator attribution and compensation, legal protection of copyrighted works, and, of course, outright theft. It’s worth noting that the U.S. Copyright Office ruled that AI-generated images cannot be copyrighted; however, the overall body of work using those images can be.

In summary, potential applications of generative AI in game development include:

• More advanced procedural generation techniques, leading to even more diverse and creative game worlds.
• Deeper integration with machine learning and other AI techniques, leading to more personalized and adaptive game experiences.
• Improved game design tools and workflows, allowing for faster and more efficient game development.
• Support for major game engines like Unity and Unreal.

Justifiable criticism of generative AI includes:

• AI replacing workers/exploiting creators’ work.
• Legal protection of copyrighted works.
• Lack of human creativity in AI generated content.
• Outright theft of artists’ work.

Generative AI can revolutionize the way games are developed, despite legitimate criticism, and major game development studios like Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, and Epic Games are already integrating it into their tools. Change is constant and the games industry is just one of many that will have to adapt.