Rockstar games co-founder Dan Houser does not have optimistic feelings about AI, as his thoughts were made quite clear in a recent interview with Virgin Radio UK. Although Houser is no longer with the company, he helped build Rockstar Games into the company it is today, and when it comes to the rest of the gaming industry, he warns that AI should be avoided.
Using AI in not only game development, but creative work in general, has been one of the most debated topics of the year. People's feelings about AI can be quite strong, as Valve and Epic Games recently threw shade at each other regarding the opposing stances of both companies. Some studios and companies have seen it as an exciting and useful tool, while others see it as a way to diminish actual creativity and craftsmanship. Based on Dan Houser's recent statements about the use of this technology, he is definitely in the camp that sees it as a waste instead of an asset.
Electronic Arts is pushing developers to use AI, and they're not happy
Electronic Arts has reportedly been pushing its employees to use artificial intelligence, and they're not happy with the latest changes.
Ex-Rockstar CEO Dan Houser compares AI to mad cow disease
During an interview with host Chris Evans on Virgin Radio UK, the topic of AI and its growing presence in the world came up, and Houser didn't mince words. He boldly stated, “Some of these people who are trying to define the future of humanity, creativity, or whatever it is with the help of AI, are not the most humane or creative people… Humanity is pulled in one direction by a certain group of people, who may not be fully rounded people.” Houser's biggest concern with this technology is how it continuously feeds information from the internet and then feeds what it has learned back to the same source. Houser predicts that this cycle will ultimately cause AI to “eat itself,” and used a colorful analogy to further illustrate his point, saying, “So it's kind of like when we fed cows to cows and got mad cow disease.”
He went on to explain his position, even saying that AI has the power to “do some tasks brilliantly, but it won't do every task brilliantly.” Given the influence Houser has had on the industry over the years, it's fascinating to see his approach to the use of AI as other longtime developers and publishers embrace it. Some companies are going all-in on AI, while Steam has marked games that use AI with a disclaimer to warn potential players. Not to mention, one of the most controversial uses of AI has been by publisher Krafton after offering to buy out employment contracts to become an “AI first” company. Houser's mad cow analogy is a compelling point that makes one wonder how much of AI's use is necessary and what is simply a fad that has yet to run its course.
Humanity is pulled in one direction by a certain group of people, who may not be fully rounded people.
Dan Houser officially left Rockstar Games in March 2020. Since then, he has founded his own company, Absurd Ventures, which aims to create a multiverse using games, podcasts, books and animations.
As game development becomes more complex, the gap between AI and non-AI studios will widen. When it comes to the craft itself and the creative side of production, it can be incredibly fragmented. It is specifically generative AI that is stirring up so much emotion, and only time will tell if it becomes the standard for the industry or not. There's no way to know for sure, but it's interesting to see this industry-wide schism begin to unfold. Houser may be right, and AI may eventually make itself obsolete, but it could also change the state of the gaming industry forever.
