"Hopefully a meteor will strike the earth soon": Game devs talk genAI witchhunts and the importance of honing your visual literacy
The era of generative AI has kindled an era of generative AI witchhunts. It's routine right now for videogame developers to fend off accusations of using the technology, even when they are full-throated in their disapproval of ChatGPT, Claude and their ilk. Recent examples include Sandustry , the 2D factory builder from Hooded Horse with strangely haunting physics , and the just-announced…
The rise of generative AI has given way to a new wave of accusations against video game developers. Even when these creators openly oppose AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude, they often find themselves defending themselves against claims of employing this technology in their work. Notable examples include the 2D factory builder Sandustry by Hooded Horse and the upcoming Humankind 2, for which Amplitude has had to assure players that their trailer is not AI-generated.
The debate highlights the evolving understanding of what AI-generated imagery truly entails - a concept that lacks a consistent style or quality. This is due to the fact that AI-generated imagery is not fixed, but rather depends on the data the model has been fed. The confusion is further compounded by the rapid pace of technological change in this field, with new or updated buzzwordy tools constantly emerging.
As these established markers of generated imagery become outdated, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between actual AI-generated content and real footage.
On top of this, advocates of generative AI add to the confusion by conflating various tools and promoting their capabilities in broad, investor-friendly terms. However, the onus is also on regular users who have become accustomed to throwing around terms like "AI slop."
Written by urgent.news from Rock Paper Shotgun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
