To be frank, I'm not really sure what artificial intelligence as we understand it today actually is. I think it's more like the metaverse, which means it's too loosely defined to make sense as a term. For a more nuanced take on this perspective, though, I recommend looking at hardware writer Nick Evanson's assessment of the current state of the “artificial general intelligence” race:
But Naughty Dog studio boss Neil Druckmann seems a lot more optimistic than I am, saying in a new Sony interview that the advent of generative AI has “opened the door to us to take on more adventurous projects and push the boundaries of storytelling in games.”
Druckmann acknowledges fairly early on that the growing use of AI “certainly raises ethical questions that need to be addressed,” but he quickly follows up by noting that AI also reduces “costs and technical hurdles,” empowering “creators to realize their vision without traditional obstacles.” He also notes that tools will quickly become outdated, encouraging up-and-coming content creators to master “fundamentals over tools.”
“With AI, your creativity is the limit,” Druckmann says. “Understanding art history, composition, and storytelling are essential to effective execution.”
“At Naughty Dog, we moved from hand-animating Jak and Daxter to using motion capture in Uncharted, significantly enhancing storytelling. AI enables us to create nuanced dialogue and characters, expanding creative possibilities, but precise control over these tools is crucial to achieving the intended results.”
Druckmann doesn't say exactly how AI will enable this nuance and creativity. Later in the interview, he says the development of sophisticated new tools will “make us more efficient and do more with less,” pointing to an engine that automates environmental design using predefined rules. But is this a step toward better storytelling, or just a way to take a few in-house artists off the payroll? Not to be a reflexive Luddite, but in my opinion, “efficiency” is not a key factor in crafting a compelling story.
Technological progress is inevitable and generally a good thing, but what I really take issue with here, and in conversations about AI in general, is the implicit suggestion that AI is somehow different from what has come before; that is, not the evolution of a new, powerful set of tools, but something entirely new and unique that will revolutionize the creative world in countless good ways. But I'm less sure, at least when it comes to anything that will be held to a higher standard than 21st-century bastardization. Will AI automate chores? Probably. Will HAL wake up one morning and sing a plaintive ode to human frailty and yearning that will make Leonard Cohen weep? Probably not.
Of course, Druckmann knows a thing or two about effective storytelling. He's the creative director of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us series and co-director of Uncharted 4. He also served as executive producer on The Last of Us TV series, which he said “has really put the spotlight on the game and illustrated the rich, immersive experience it provides.” He also has high hopes for Naughty Dog's next game, which may or may not be The Last of Us Part 3.
“This visibility [of The Last of Us] “I'm excited not only about our current project, but also the broader potential the game has to reach audiences around the world,” Druckmann concluded. “I can't wait to see how this new game resonates, especially following the success of The Last of Us, as it has the potential to redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming.”
