Voice actors and game developers are concerned about Microsoft’s partnership with Inworld AI. The company presents its “AI design copilot” and “character runtime engine” as potentially valuable tools for game developers. However, critics warn it will lead to lost jobs and worse games.
Devs and Actors are concerned about Microsoft’s AI game development tools
Microsoft announced its partnership with Inworld AI on November 6. The AI toolset consists of a “design copilot” and a “character runtime engine.” The former will automatically generate quests, scripts, dialogue trees, and more. The latter will reportedly be able to dynamically create new quests and dialogue on the fly. However, they raise concerns about the role humans will play in the future of game development. Several figures in the game industry have voiced objections to these new AI development tools, as PC Gamer reported.
“Lots of people are going to get fired, games will get worse, and C-suite will get millions,” said Rami Ismail. He mocked the idea of AI game design, jokingly nominating “tts-1-hd,” “gpt-4-1106-preview,” and “dall-e-3” for Game Awards trophies. Meanwhile, The Lamplighters’ League’s lead narrative designer, Jill Schar, responded to the news with a call to action. Over Twitter, she urged fellow game developers to get caught up on the SAG-AFTRA strike and its position on AI. “Actors are the front lines right now in the struggle against corporate greed and unethical uses of AI,” she wrote.
“This is scary,” said Shelby Young, who’s voiced characters in Genshin Impact, God of War, and Star Was: Jedi Survivor. “Recording NPC’s is how many voice actors cut their teeth in this industry.” She also expressed concerns about how Microsoft’s AI will affect writers and game designers as well. Deus Ex and Starfield actor Elias Toufexis expressed a similar sentiment, with the latter calling for another strike.
