We’re finally talking about AI, ft. David ‘Rez’ Graham and Luke Dicken
Game Developer magazine has published an interview with two prominent industry veterans discussing artificial intelligence in video game development. The conversation features David “Rez” Graham, a former senior engineer at Maxis, and Dr. Luke Dicken, who previously served as head of AI at Take-Two Interactive. Senior editor Bryant Francis conducts the discussion, which explores how AI and various AI techniques are reshaping game development while examining broader questions about the nature of work and AI’s inherent value within the industry.
Graham and Dicken bring deep expertise to the discussion, having spent years researching and implementing artificial intelligence in games well before the recent mainstream surge of industry interest. While Silicon Valley has only recently embraced large language models (LLMs), diffusion models, and frontier models as transformative technologies, both professionals have been engaged with AI development in the gaming sector for significantly longer. This extended experience positions them as valuable commentators on both the potential and practical realities of AI adoption in games.
The interview covers the pair’s experiences witnessing the recent AI boom, their continued passion for the field, and their perspectives on effectively utilizing AI in game development contexts. The discussion represents a conversation between long-time industry practitioners and emerging mainstream interest in AI technology, offering insights from professionals who have tracked AI’s evolution within gaming from early experimental adoption through to current industry-wide attention.