
AI’s Job Impact On The Video Game Industry
The TDR Three Key Takeaways Regarding AI’s Job Impact On The Video Game Industry:
- Generative AI is leading to significant layoffs in the video game industry, with companies like Activision Blizzard replacing human roles with AI tools.
- Game industry workers are anxious and opposed to AI use, fearing job security and quality of work will be compromised.
- The rise of AI is driving game workers to seek unionization to protect their roles and influence AI implementation.
Activision Blizzard has used generative AI for game development, leading to significant job displacement. AI in the video game industry is transforming how games are created, but not without controversy. This development has prompted discussions about the ethical and practical implications of AI’s role in game development.
Activision Blizzard’s use of AI tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion has caused anxiety among employees, particularly artists, writers, and designers. Internal communications from Activision’s CTO, Michael Vance, highlight AI’s potential benefits but have also stoked fears about job security, reported on Wired.
In 2023 alone, the gaming industry saw 10,500 layoffs, with more expected in 2024. AI is a significant factor in these job cuts, automating tasks that were previously handled by humans. This trend is evident at companies like Riot Games and Tencent, where similar patterns of layoffs and transitions to AI-related roles are occurring. Artists at Activision Blizzard, such as Molly Warner, express significant anxiety. Warner stated on the Wired, “There’s a ton of anxiety for artists across the board with AI. Pretty much everyone I know is vehemently against the use of AI-generated images.”
The impact of AI in the video game industry is multifaceted. While it enhances productivity and compensates for attrition, it also raises ethical concerns and contributes to job insecurity. For instance, Activision has approved the use of GPT-3.5 and other generative AI tools for concept art and marketing, despite promises not to replace artists. AI-generated assets have already appeared in games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, indicating a shift in how game assets are created.
Adopting AI tools has led to layoffs and forced transitions among artists. Noah, (Noah is a pseudonym) an artist at Activision, shared his experience on the Wired: “I felt that we were throwing away our humanity. A lot of 2D artists were laid off. Remaining concept artists were then forced to use AI to aid in their work.” This sentiment is widespread among game artists, who are concerned about the long-term implications of AI on their craft and careers.
Moreover, the use of AI in game development extends beyond 2D images and storyboards. Generative AI is increasingly employed for character designs and other aspects of game creation. Some estimates suggest that AI could handle over half of game development tasks within the next 5 to 10 years. This rapid adoption is driven by the desire to cut costs and increase efficiency, but it comes at the expense of job quality and wages.
The outsourcing of work to countries like China, where AI tools are also reducing job opportunities, further complicates the situation. Studios are looking to cut costs, and AI is a key tool in achieving this. However, this cost-cutting approach impacts job security and the overall quality of game development. Violet, (Violet is a pseudonym) a game developer and technical artist, criticized this trend, stating, “Why get a bunch of expensive concept artists or designers when you can get an art director to give some bad directions to an AI and get stuff that’s good enough, really fast—and get a few artists to clean it up?”
Game workers are increasingly unionizing to gain control over AI use, pushing for protections similar to those in Hollywood. They aim to ensure AI integration doesn’t jeopardize job security, as AI’s inconsistent quality could impact game production and worker stability. Want to be updated on Cannabis, AI, Small Cap, and Crypto? Subscribe to our Daily Baked in Newsletter!