I have, for the most part, been a vocal opponent of the use of modern generative AI in the creative process. While many companies and individuals are excited to start using new technology, far fewer are enthusiastic about the messy and nebulous ethics. around the cultivation field. AI is still in its infancy, and legislation around its ethical use is similarly underdeveloped.
However, there are exceptions, and Stellaris' recent DLC may be one of them. The disclaimer on the Steam store page for the new DLC The Machine Age reads:
“We employ generative AI technology during the creation of some assets. Typically this includes ideas for content and visual references. These elements form small components of the overall development. The AI is used to generate the voices of the AI adversaries and the player's advisors.
You can read our review of that DLC here.
Can the use of AI be ethical?
If this disclaimer immediately turns you off, you're not alone. When AI is discovered in a project, it often indicates a refusal to pay working artists fairly or even hire them at all, and the AI collects stolen works to train its models. The reality of how to do so is rarely considered. That's bad enough, but Machine Age is specifically about AI consciousness taking over the galaxy, with an emphasis on “synthetic ascension” as a means of achieving immortality.
However, the game's director, Stephen 'Eladrin' Muray, made a very good case for the use of AI in this example. First, while using AI voice actors usually means losing the voice actor's job, his AI voice generation tools that the team used meant that the voice actors who built these models earned royalties for every line the team created. Murray says you can be sure you will receive it.
Whisper's return is the key to immortality in Destiny 2
Whisper is back after so many years, but it feels like you're playing it for the first time.
So what about AI-generated visual references? Well, they'll never be in the game, Murray says. They are just visual references that go on a mood board, a basic representation of an idea, and the artist may or may not use it as inspiration. The same goes for generated text, which is used for inspiration but doesn't actually make it into the game.
This reasoning rests on more slippery grounds. More ethical questions need to be raised here than responsible artist payments, such as whether the similarity between the final product and the AI-generated image is considered theft, and what models are being used. Ethically created by our development team, with source material provided by consented artists. However, the team appears to be adhering to strict guidelines for the ethical use of his AI, and although we don't know the details yet, there is a dev diary detailing how the team will use his AI tools. will be created, Muray said. It will be released in a few weeks.
In this case, AI is a perfect fit
Still, I think it's in bad taste to use AI for voice acting work when voice actors can usually do a better, more nuanced job, but given the specific needs of Stellaris, the AI's VA offers certain advantages. sense. The roles for which AI-generated voices were used were specifically the player's advisor and her DLC composite AI Queen Setana. I don't know much about Player Advisor, but the strange quirks that AI-generated voices often have only serve to confirm Cetana's characteristics, so having an AI do her AI voice makes a lot of sense. I think that's true. Ethics aside for a moment, this is actually a pretty great use case.
That being said, I don't expect this to become commonplace in the gaming industry. Understandably, many players are suspicious of her AI-generated content in the game, even if there is a defensible case for its ethics. His recent negative Steam review of Stellaris cited its use of AI. I don't blame companies for squinting when they see the word “AI,” given that we're seeing headlines about companies deploying AI amid a wave of massive layoffs that are disrupting industries. . I do too.It still feels like AI. Too It's ethically complex how any studio can use it and come out unscathed, but video game companies thematically model how to use AI thoughtfully on how to address ethics around this issue. It's refreshing to see it change.
Stellaris
Stallaris is a space-based 4X game by Paradox, released in 2016 for PC and consoles. You must take control of your corner of the galaxy and build and expand your civilization through exploration, research, trade, and war.
