90 per cent of game developers are already using AI - Google Cloud study
The gaming industry is officially "hooked" on artificial intelligence. According to the latest research by Google Cloud and The Harris Poll, conducted among 615 developers from the USA, South Korea, Norway, Finland and Sweden, 90% of specialists already use AI in their work processes. Moreover, 97% believe that generative technologies are changing the very nature of game creation.
Here's What We Know
The main focus is that AI removes routine. 95% of respondents said that automation means they have to do less repetitive tasks, freeing up time for creativity. The most popular uses are playtesting and balancing (47%), localisation (45%) and code generation (44%).
But AI not only saves hours of work, it also actively influences creativity: 36% of developers use neural networks for procedural level design, animation and dialogue writing. 37% of respondents say it helps create new game mechanics and genres.
Players will feel the difference too: almost 90% of developers said that audience expectations are changing. Gamers want "living" worlds and smart NPCs that will adapt to the player's style.
Special attention is paid to AI agents - programs that perform tasks in real time: from content optimisation (44%) to world generation and moderation (37% each).
But there are challenges
For all the pros, troubling issues remain. 63% of developers are concerned about who owns the rights to AI content, and a third are worried about the privacy of user data. Among the barriers are high implementation costs (24%) and a lack of AI-savvy professionals (23%).
As Jack Buser, Google Cloud's global director of gaming, summarised, "AI is no longer futuristic. It's a reality that is changing the way games are made and played."
Source: Google Cloud | PR Newswire
