Warhorse co-founder: AI won't replace devs, will augment teams
Martin Klima says the idea of laying off half a studio and replacing staff with AI is fundamentally flawed, arguing the technology will let teams build bigger games.
Warhorse Studios co-founder Martin Klima has pushed back on the idea that AI will replace game developers, arguing instead that the technology will augment human teams so they can build bigger games, according to pcgamer.com.
Klima said videogame executives carry a simplified mental model of what AI means for games, and that the notion of laying off half a studio's staff and replacing them with AI is fundamentally flawed. He described AI as not a get out of jail free card.
In his view, player demand for larger games will push studios to keep human development teams at the same size while adding AI tools, allowing them to deliver bigger games at the same cost.
An industry already using AI
AI has already been used in game voice acting and cited as one of the reasons behind ongoing industry layoffs. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has said AI isn't in the business of making hits because clones don't sell, but can still help developers. Some studios have used machine learning to cut out busy work for developers, such as on World of Warcraft.
Quick answers
What did Martin Klima say about AI and game developers?
The Warhorse Studios co-founder said AI will not replace developers but will augment teams, allowing them to make bigger games at the same cost.
Did Klima say studios should lay off staff and replace them with AI?
No. He said that idea is fundamentally flawed and described AI as not a get out of jail free card.