Larian’s Leader Addresses Gen AI Criticism, Emphasizes It’s ‘Not A Substitute’ for Talent or Craftsmanship

Larian Studios is diving into the world of generative AI, but not everyone is on board. Swen Vincke, the studio head behind Baldur’s Gate 3, recently shared a statement to clarify their position, emphasizing that this technology is not intended to replace jobs. “Any [Machine Learning] tool used well is additive to a creative team or individual’s workflow, not a replacement for their skill or craft,” he explained.

This response comes after a wave of criticism sparked by a recent interview that revealed Larian’s plans to incorporate generative AI, despite some internal hesitations. Vincke reassured fans that the technology is being utilized for tasks like placeholder text, PowerPoint presentations, and initial concept art experiments, and that no AI-generated content will feature in their upcoming RPG, Divinity.

The backlash on social media was immediate. One Reddit user expressed their frustration, saying, “Don’t mind me, currently living through my personal 9/11.” An artist who contributed to BG3 added, “Consider my feedback: I loved working at Larian until AI. Reconsider and change your direction, like, yesterday. Show your employees some respect. They are world-class and do not need AI assistance to come up with amazing ideas.”

In a detailed statement, Vincke addressed these concerns:

“We’ve been continuously increasing our pool of concept artists, writers, and storytellers, actively assembling writer rooms, casting, and recording performances from actors, as well as hiring translators.

Regarding concept art specifically, we have 23 concept artists and are looking to hire more. These artists are dedicated to creating concept art daily for ideation and production.

Our approach is incremental, aimed at allowing our team to spend more time on creative endeavors.

Any ML tool used effectively enhances a creative team or individual’s workflow, rather than replacing their skill or craft.

We are exploring the cutting edge of ML as a toolset for creatives, seeking ways to simplify their daily tasks, ultimately leading to better games.

We are not releasing a game with any AI components, nor are we considering downsizing teams to replace them with AI.

While I recognize this topic stirs strong emotions, it’s a subject we continually discuss internally, focusing on improving everyone’s work experience, not diminishing it.

Vincke reiterated that Larian is expanding its roster of artists, not reducing it, and is enhancing its creative resources for the upcoming game rather than cutting corners with AI. He assured fans that Divinity will not include AI elements, and the goal is to support employees rather than impose technology on them, unlike some other companies.

However, the statement does not fully address the broader concerns surrounding generative AI tools, which many critics argue resemble plagiarism machines. There’s skepticism about allowing such technology into game development. A former host noted, “Early Access and the way they managed their community across all their updates helped humanize that team in ways that only benefited Baldur’s Gate 3; it’s strange for the studio to risk that goodwill.”