As Major Game Companies Embrace AI, Pushback from Workers Is On the Rise

The video game industry is increasingly turning to generative AI, sparking concerns among workers about job displacement and the degradation of their craft.

Key takeaways: The adoption of AI in game development is already well underway, with major studios like Activision Blizzard and Riot Games integrating AI tools into their workflows:

• Activision Blizzard has approved the internal use of AI tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion for concept art, and has laid off many 2D artists while pushing remaining concept artists to use AI in their work.
• Riot Games experimented with developing its own AI system in partnership with Vizcom, though it was met with skepticism from artists at the company.
• Electronic Arts’ CEO has acknowledged the potential for AI to displace workers in the short term, but expressed hope that it will create more opportunities in the long run.

The impact on jobs: While not all recent layoffs in the gaming industry can be attributed directly to AI, the technology is being used to cut corners, boost productivity, and compensate for attrition:

• Concept artists, graphic designers, asset artists, and illustrators have been hit hardest so far, as AI can generate “good enough” 2D images that management may deem acceptable to cut costs.
• Job postings for concept art positions are increasingly requiring expertise in AI tools like Stable Diffusion and DALL-E, signaling a shift in expectations for artists.
• Outsourcing of art assets to countries like China has increased, where AI is also displacing jobs and driving down wages.

Divided opinions and ethical concerns: The rise of AI has split the gaming industry, with some companies embracing it enthusiastically and others proceeding more cautiously:

• Many game workers, especially artists, are vehemently opposed to the use of AI-generated images and fear for their livelihoods, while executives tend to be more optimistic about its potential.
• There are concerns about the legality of using unlicensed intellectual property to train AI models, as well as the security and reliability of these systems.
• Some workers worry that AI will be used to justify short-term hires over permanent staffing, as companies could train their own models and reduce the need for future work.

Pushback and organizing efforts: As awareness of AI’s impact grows, some game workers are turning to unionization as a means of securing protections and having a say in how the technology is used:

• The successful efforts of Hollywood writers to secure AI provisions in their contract with studios have been held up as a model for game workers to follow.
• A majority of game developers surveyed by GDC organizers expressed support for unionization, with AI being cited as a catalyst for organizing.

Analyzing deeper: The gaming industry’s embrace of generative AI reflects a broader trend of companies prioritizing cost-cutting and efficiency over the livelihoods and craft of their workers. While the technology itself is not inherently bad, its deployment in a profit-driven context has raised serious concerns about job displacement, deskilling, and the erosion of creative control.

As the gaming world continues to grapple with these challenges, it remains to be seen whether workers will be able to successfully push back and secure a meaningful say in how AI is integrated into their field. Much will depend on the ability of game developers, artists, and designers to organize and advocate for their interests in the face of powerful economic incentives driving the adoption of AI.

Ultimately, the story of AI in the gaming industry is still being written, and its trajectory will have profound implications not just for game workers, but for the future of creative labor in an increasingly automated world.