Video Games are the Biggest Beneficiary of AI; EA Has a Plan
Andrew Wilson, president of Electronic Arts, sees video games as an industry that has much to gain from the use of artificial intelligence.
For many Internet users, recent advances in AI development are mere curiosity, used mainly in modest and insignificant projects. Nevertheless, there are those who, for one reason or another, are concerned about initiatives using artificial intelligence. They do not include Electronic Arts bosses, who are pinning high hopes on the application of AI in video game development.
Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson and EA's head of studios Laura Miele addressed the issue in a summary of the fourth quarter and the 2023 fiscal year (ended on March 31; via The Motley Fool).
According to Wilson the gaming market could reap "some of the greatest benefits" from the development of artificial intelligence. He was seconded by Miele, who elaborated on the points raised by the CEO.
- On the one hand, AI will make life easier for developers, speeding up work on games or "creative iterations" and enabling teams to get on with "creating even more entertainment for audiences" (perhaps enabling more efficient work on several projects at once).
- On the other hand artificial intelligence will assist players, who will be able to create high-quality in-game content more easily, with realistic animations and real-time reading of written text.
"In terms of game development, one can imagine that the speed of content creation and creative iterations will greatly benefit from having truly intelligent tools [...]. Andrew [Wilson - editor's note] mentioned content creators, realistic animation, real-time text reading for players and what that will mean for them and their experience.
In terms of supporting live-service games at a larger scale, we will be able to apply excellent image detection, problem-solving and economic modeling tools that we can apply as these connected ecosystems develop. So we are optimistic, excited and inspired by the new wave of AI," said Laura Miele.
Wilson also addressed concerns about the future of artificial intelligence, including, as he put it, "the displacement of the workforce by AI" and issues of rights to works created with its help.
- EA's CEO expressed hope that this revolution - in reference to the agricultural and industrial revolutions - will increase employment levels in the long run.
- He also assured that the company will work with governments and regulators to protect consumers from instances of AI being used by "bad elements."
These assurances are unlikely to dispel the doubts about the future of the game industry (and beyond) with artificial intelligence. Suffice it to recall the reactions of gamers to the publication of one AI-made image by the developers of the new System Shock. Nevertheless, this is unlikely to discourage publishers who are vividly interested in more active use of artificial intelligence.
