Dragon Age Writer Warns Generative AI Could Harm Game Development: ‘It’s Like a Dangerous Plague’
David Gaider, co-creator of Dragon Age, has labeled generative AI a “virulent plague” and strongly criticized its role in game development. In a conversation, the former BioWare writer described the technology as “terrible at iteration” and characterized its outputs as “soulless.”
Gaider, who played a pivotal role as lead writer on Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age II, and Dragon Age: Inquisition, along with contributions to Baldur’s Gate II and Knights of the Old Republic, expressed several concerns about generative AI, starting with its reliance on plagiarism. He pointed out that generative AI often uses data without the consent of the original creators, which could lead to significant legal challenges. He remarked, “If we’re not allowed to steal whatever we need, then the AI won’t work as well!” isn’t a very compelling argument.”
He also questioned the value of AI-generated assets in games, asking, “Honestly, what does it help with? Does it make the work more efficient? Does it improve the work?” Gaider emphasized that in his experience as a narrative designer, he has never found a scenario where revising a subpar product was quicker than simply starting over.
A key point Gaider made was about the reversal of expectations regarding AI. Instead of AI serving as a helpful assistant, it seems to be taking on the critical tasks, leaving humans to handle the cleanup. “It wouldn’t be so bad if generative AI was seen more as an assistant, doing the drudgery while leaving more important tasks for the worker, but we seem to be seeing more and more of the reverse,” he noted.
He cautioned against the elimination of tasks that are essential for training new developers, questioning how the next generation of creators will learn if all entry-level tasks are removed.
Gaider criticized generative AI for being “terrible at iteration,” raising doubts about its ability to effectively address bugs in what he referred to as vibe coding. He questioned the purpose of creating prototypes with AI if the end result leaves the team without a deeper understanding of the final product.
He concluded with a stark warning: until there are regulations ensuring that AI is trained on legally sourced data and until decision-makers recognize that it’s not a viable substitute for human labor, it should be treated as the “virulent plague” it is.
