According to a recent survey conducted by the organizers of the Game Developers Conference (GDC), it has been found that 31% of game developers are already incorporating generative AI in their work. Furthermore, 18% of respondents stated that while they personally don’t use it, their colleagues at the workplace do.
This indicates that nearly half of all developers (49%) are working in studios where generative AI is being utilized in some capacity. Although the direct impact may not always be apparent, generative AI tools have drawn controversy, particularly when used to generate artwork, writing, and voices that players directly encounter.
Generative AI tools are primarily used by game developers to assist with the coding process, automate repetitive tasks, and expedite content creation. Moreover, generative AI is also utilized as a research and writing assistant, helping with tasks such as generating marketing copy, summarizing transcriptions, or solving mathematical problems.
Interestingly, the survey revealed that the most significant use of generative AI within the games industry occurs in departments related to finance, marketing, PR, production, and management. On the other hand, departments like narrative, art, audio, and QA were found to be the least likely to utilize generative AI. These findings suggest that generative AI is primarily employed in non-creative aspects of game development.
While generative AI is being widely used in the gaming industry, not all companies have explicit policies regarding its usage. Only 12% of respondents mentioned that their company had a policy forbidding the use of generative AI. A small percentage (7%) reported that certain tools were allowed while others were not, while another 2% stated that they were required to use AI. The majority either indicated a lack of policy or mentioned that the use of generative AI tools was optional.
Despite the growing prevalence of generative AI, developers expressed concerns about its ethical implications. Approximately 42% of respondents stated that they were “very concerned,” while another 42% said they were “somewhat concerned” about the ethics of generative AI.
Some developers apprehensively highlighted the potential job replacement and emphasized the need to use AI to enhance capabilities rather than reduce the workforce. Others raised concerns about copyright and ethics, advocating for stricter regulation of the technology.
Source: GDC