LogInHowever, executives don't think it will lead to reduced development costs.
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AI is rapidly seeping into every aspect of our lives, and the game industry is one of the most fertile soils for it. How much actual human work will we see in several years?
The consulting firm Bain & Company surveyed 25 gaming executives, and they believe that while generative AI now holds less than 5% of game development power, in 5 to 10 years, it will create 50% of game content.
Despite that, only 20% of respondents think this will reduce costs, and 60% don't expect it to alleviate the talent shortage in the industry.
“Although most executives we spoke with believe generative AI may free developers from mundane work, they do not believe it will replace the creative spark necessary for game development, emphasizing the importance of human oversight,” said Andre James, global head of Bain’s Media & Entertainment practice (via GamesBeat). “Despite implementation challenges, most respondents expect generative AI will affect gaming in ways that are far greater than impacts felt by other technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and cloud gaming.”
Most executives think generative AI will show more potential in production and later phases of game development. They expect companies to come up with strategies on how to wield AI effectively.
Developers are afraid of AI taking their jobs, but most participants think "the talent model will benefit by freeing up creatives from labor-intensive tasks, such as coding content for games." At the same time, the industry won't be able to function without human creativity.
As a piece of advice for gaming companies, the executives provided the following points:
- Take a disciplined and proactive approach to generative AI
- Base decisions on what will benefit the player
- Strategically assess building vs. buying vs. partnering opportunities
- Recognize this is more than a technological transformation
So they think studios should use the opportunities AI gives them but do it responsibly.
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