TLDR: 31% of game developers already use generative AI

Valve recently announced that Steam will allow games made with assistance from generative AI tools so long as it’s disclosed. In a survey of over 3,000 game developers, 31% of respondents said that they personally use generative AI in their work, and 18% said that they don’t personally use it, but colleagues in their workplace do. That means that 49% of game studios are using generative AI in some fashion. Generative AI tools are most controversial when used to generate artwork, writing, and voices that players directly experience. Large language models like ChatGPT are additionally used as general research and writing assistants that can generate marketing copy, summarize a transcription of a meeting, or solve math problems.

The Key Elements:

• Valve announced that Steam will allow games made with generative AI tools
• 31% of game developers surveyed use generative AI in their work
• 49% of game studios are using generative AI in some fashion
• Generative AI tools are controversial when used to generate artwork, writing, and voices that players directly experience
• Generative AI is used to automate repetitive tasks and code generation
• Most generative AI use is in finance, marketing, PR, production, and management
• Only 12% of companies surveyed have a policy forbidding generative AI use
• 42% of respondents are concerned about the ethical problems of generative AI
• 27% fewer developers are interested in NFTs and cryptocurrency