Navigating the Impact of AI on Gaming: Enthusiasm Meets Concerns

Politics, News Sept. 21, 2023, 10:50 a.m.

AIs role in gaming: Enthusiasm meets concerns. Developers see creative potential, while translators face pay cuts. Quality vs. cost debate looms. AIs impact uncertain.

The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and the gaming industry is a topic of growing enthusiasm and debate. Game developers and industry insiders are increasingly exploring the potential of AI to enhance creativity and gameplay, while also confronting its limitations and potential consequences.

Sasha MacKinnon, the founder and managing director of Mino Games, envisions a utopia of AI in which everyone becomes more creative, leading to the creation of beautiful digital experiences and bringing people closer together through shared creative endeavors. As a self-proclaimed "Pokemon nerd" who started developing games at the age of six, MacKinnon's passion for AI's possibilities is evident. He believes that if executed correctly, AI could revolutionize game development.

Many gaming insiders share this optimism. A recent study by management consultancy Bain & Company, published in September 2023, revealed that a majority of gaming industry executives anticipate AI's involvement in at least half of the development process within the next five to ten years.

One notable example of AI integration in gaming is "Dimensionals," a role-playing game developed by Sasha MacKinnon's studio. In this game, AI is embedded within a character, a quirky and creative individual who continually surprises players with witty suggestions and unpredictable interactions. AI's role extends beyond character behavior to generating characters, fights, and dialogues. MacKinnon describes these moments as "magical," where AI's unpredictability adds a layer of excitement to the gaming experience. However, AI currently faces limitations, with 40-50% of its suggestions deemed unusable. As a result, at Mino Games, AI serves as a collaborative tool, offering ideas that are then refined and implemented by human designers.

Despite the growing integration of AI, MacKinnon firmly believes that game developers need not fear for their job security. He asserts that games represent the purest form of human expression, seamlessly blending storytelling, art, sound, and the overall experience they provide. According to MacKinnon, AI can never replicate this unique amalgamation of elements as effectively as humans can.

However, not all professionals in the gaming industry share MacKinnon's optimism. Daniel Landes, a freelance translator responsible for adapting international games into German, including titles like "Hogwarts Legacy" and "Overwatch 2," expresses concerns about the impact of AI on his profession. Traditionally, translators work as freelancers and are compensated per word, a modest source of income. With the increasing adoption of AI by game producers, translators are facing pressure to accept reduced compensation, often receiving only 30% of their original per-word rates.

Landes emphasizes that translators view AI tools as aids, similar to how mathematicians use calculators. The central issue lies in the expectation of lower pay, despite no concrete evidence that AI significantly simplifies the translation process. Complex texts, such as dialogues and creative content, require nuanced interpretation rather than literal translation—a task that AI struggles with due to its inability to grasp context. Landes clarifies that AI operates by calculating probabilities, making it ill-suited for capturing the essence and meaning of the original text.

In response to these challenges, the umbrella organization for audiovisual translators in Europe, AVTE, issued a manifesto on AI translations in 2021, with Daniel Landes among its contributors. The manifesto raises concerns about potential quality loss, questions the efficiency of AI tools, and advocates for fair compensation for translators. Despite these efforts, conditions for translators have not notably improved, primarily due to the freelance nature of their work, which makes collective action difficult.

AI's effectiveness in game development is contingent on the quality of the data it receives, and its evolution over time is uncertain; it can improve or deteriorate, as evidenced by the case of ChatGPT. These factors raise valid concerns about the potential impact on game quality if AI becomes more prevalent.

The cost-effectiveness and speed of AI compared to human professionals in game development may incentivize studios to accept lower quality as a trade-off for reduced expenses. This compromise between quality and cost could lead to a surge in mediocre games flooding the market.

It's worth noting that AI's broader integration into game development processes could also democratize game creation. With AI handling various tasks, including graphics, copywriting, and programming, more individuals may have the opportunity to develop games. This could result in a wave of user-generated content, potentially birthing new and successful game genres.

Throughout the history of gaming, technological advancements have continually shaped the industry's trajectory. From text adventures in the 1980s to pixelated 2D platforms in the 1990s, and later, detailed open-world games in the 2000s, the evolution of technology has consistently influenced game development. Now, the rise of multiplayer online games further underscores technology's role in shaping the industry.

In conclusion, the intersection of AI and game development offers both promising opportunities and significant challenges. While AI can enhance creativity and streamline development processes, it also raises concerns about quality and job security in the gaming industry. Striking a balance between harnessing AI's potential and preserving the essence of human-driven creativity is crucial. Ultimately, the future of AI in gaming hinges on how it is wielded—as a tool for inspiration and collaboration rather than a replacement for human ingenuity.