Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser doesn’t have optimistic feelings about AI, as his thoughts were made quite clear in a recent interview with Virgin Radio UK. Although Houser is no longer with the company, he helped build Rockstar Games into the company it is today, and when it comes to the rest of the gaming industry, he warns that AI should be avoided.
Using AI in not only game development, but creative work in general, has been one of the most debated topics of the year. People’s feelings about AI can be quite strong, as Valve and Epic Games recently threw shade at one another regarding both company’s opposite stances. Some studios and companies have seen it as an intriguing and useful tool, while others see it as a way to diminish actual creativity and craft. Based on Dan Houser’s recent statements on the use of this technology, he’s definitely in the camp that sees it as a waste instead of an asset.
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Ex-Rockstar Boss Dan Houser Compares AI to Mad Cow Disease
During an interview with host Chris Evans on Virgin Radio UK, the topic of AI and its growing presence in the world came up, and Houser didn’t mince words. He boldly stated, “Some of these people trying to define the future of humanity, creativity, or whatever it is using AI, are not the most humane or creative people… Humanity is being pulled in a direction by a certain group of people, who maybe aren’t fully-rounded humans.” Houser’s biggest concern about this technology is how it’s continuously feeding off information from the internet and then regurgitating what it’s learned back to the same source. Houser predicts that this cycle will ultimately make AI “eat itself” and used a colorful analogy to further illustrate his point, stating, “So it’s sort of like when we fed cows with cows and got mad cow disease.”
Continuing to explain his stance, he even said that AI has the power to “do some tasks brilliantly, but it’s not going to do every task brilliantly.” Considering the influence that Houser has had on the industry over the years, it’s fascinating to see his stance on the use of AI when other long-standing developers and publishers are embracing it. Some companies are going all-in on AI, while Steam has marked games that use AI with a disclaimer to warn potential players. Not to mention, one of the most controversial uses of AI has been by publisher Krafton after offering to buy out employee contracts to become an “AI first” company. Houser’s analogy about mad cow disease is a compelling point that makes one wonder just how much of AI’s use is necessary and what is simply a fad that has yet to run its course.
Humanity is being pulled in a direction by a certain group of people, who maybe aren’t fully-rounded humans.
Dan Houser officially left Rockstar Games in March 2020. Since then, he has founded his own company, Absurd Ventures, which sets out to create a multiverse using games, podcasts, books, and animation.
As game development becomes more complex, the divide between studios that use AI and don’t use AI is bound to become larger. When it comes to the actual crafting and creative side of production, it can be incredibly divisive. It’s specifically generative AI that brings up so many feelings, and only time will tell if it becomes the standard for the industry or not. There’s no way to know for sure, but it’s interesting watching this industry-wide schism begin to unfold. Houser could be right, and AI could eventually make itself obsolete, but it could also transform the state of the gaming industry forever.
