The bigwigs who want AI-generated NPCs and writing think you’re too dumb to appreciate a good story—don’t prove them right
The gaming industry’s push toward AI-generated NPCs and dialogue continues to draw criticism, with executives like Saber Interactive’s CEO championing generative AI as a solution for game writing. Ubisoft has similarly promoted “neo-NPCs” powered by artificial intelligence, framing these systems as potential answers to ballooning development costs and ambitious open-world game design.
The theoretical appeal is straightforward: AI could populate vast game worlds with infinite dialogue chains and storylines, solving resource constraints that plague modern AAA development. However, the article’s author argues the practical results fall short of promises, describing AI-generated content as mediocre in execution.
The piece critiques what it characterizes as industry leaders’ assumption that players lack the sophistication to distinguish between human-written and AI-generated narratives. Rather than accepting executive assurances, the author calls on audiences to maintain standards for quality storytelling and not settle for lower-quality AI alternatives.
This reflects ongoing tension in the gaming industry over generative AI implementation—balancing cost efficiency against player expectations for authentic, well-crafted narrative experiences.