Bethesda’s Todd Howard has revealed that his company take a careful approach in regards to the application of AI in development, revealing the Fallout studio doesn’t actually use it to ‘generate anything’ but rather as a tool ‘to look at the data in our games.’
For us, we’re being incredibly cautious. [We’re] kind of viewing [it] as a tool, like an analyst, to look at the data in our games. We’re not using it to generate anything. I think there’s an element of artistic intention that is essential to what we do and what others do.”
You can’t ignore it, in terms of it’s coming, it’s changing, every few months there’s a new model, particularly in the tech side with code or productivity or other things. I would just say we’re looking at that stuff, we’re not fully ignoring it, because where it can help us get better at some big data tasks that just take us a lot of time, that we just wish were done now, so we can move on to the creative stuff, that’s kinda where our heads are.
Howard revealed during the same interview that development of The Elder Scrolls VI is progressing well and nearing a major milestone, and would be more along the likes of a ‘classic’ Bethesda title such as The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion and Skyrim. Furthermore, he addressed rumours about Starfield 2.0, stating that while the developer is working on what’s next for the sci-RPG, it isn’t likely to change the mind of anyone who didn’t enjoy the game at launch.
AI has of course been a major topic for the industry in the past few years. For example, recently Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick said that generative AI has ‘zero part’ in what Rockstar Games is building with Grand Theft Auto 6, while a report last year claimed that EA is urging staff to use AI for ‘just about everything.’
[Source – Kinda Funny Games Podcast via GamingBolt]