Generative AI in games has taken twists and turns over the past few years. Recent experiments have drawn the ire of artists and writers, but so far, the experiments have mostly proven to be poor at replicating the human touch.

As mentioned last week, technologies like Ubisoft's "Neo NPC" feel like they target the poor idea of creating a game that can be played forever.

Needless to say, there is a looming concern that human creators such as artists, writers, and voice actors will lose their livelihood.

World of Warcraft does not fully endorse the generative AI gold rush.

According to Hite, his mother was an aeronautical engineer and his father a fine artist. The artists on the team fear that the introduction of AI will take away their jobs and do not want their work used without their permission or credit.

He said Blizzard "is still in the process of sorting that out. Rights issues, how far to go with this technology," but insists that "we are not using generative AI within WoW."

But machine learning is still on the table. For those who don't know, there is a notable difference between generative AI, which is a machine learning algorithm for creating artwork, audio, and text, and machine learning for automating specific processes. While obviously not as simple as "good AI" and "bad AI," the latter blends more plainly into the automation tools that artists and developers are already using. Such algorithms are similar to shaders, textures, and pre-prepared brushes, for example.

My favorite example is 2018's Into the Spider-Verse, not only because it is a film that was (rightfully) praised for its creative human touch.

WoW's use of machine learning is a bit less flashy, but follows the same vein; Hight says he used the algorithm to adapt a new armor set to WoW's 24 races (25 if you include Dracthyr, but most races are not available) He says." Our artists, previously, they had to build for the human form and then they had to go modify these things for all the various body shapes and horns and big noses and tails and all that stuff. That is not a particularly fun job for them."

Heit says they used machine learning as an experiment and are pleased with the results: "It actually worked really well. It allowed us to make more different kinds of armor. The artists love it because they're like, 'Oh, thank you for taking the filth out of what we're doing.'"

The team is also very pleased with the results.

This is a small pinch of relief, especially after Blizzard filed a patent earlier this year for a system that could create AI based on its own in-house work. Nevertheless, Blizzard, as a company, has not always had a good relationship with its employees, and many artists were involved in the layoffs that rocked the company earlier this year.

Be that as it may, while I am glad that Hite is being sarcastic about generative AI, and I am sure he means what he says, there is still no ceiling on what generative AI can do. Still, for now, there is no need to worry about Generative Nightmare's old god D'heep'fakk getting into Azeroth's heart.