And then you have companies like Larian defending Gen AI. I understand the short-term expenses saved. But I have to sincerely ask: if you really thought about it, do you actually believe it is both cheaper, and better, to use (shitty hallucinating stolen) Gen AI over developing your own software?

I get the whole "AA means lower budget" thing... but you have game studios famous for building their own engines every new iteration (say what you want about Rockstar or Square Enix, they know how to hit where it counts when they really mean to.)

On the other hand, you can build smaller and more well-tailored LLMs that will also probably work more effectively for whatever your purpose is. Preferably also without the stolen data and gallons of drinking water. That is called software development.

On the one hand, you can use enormous amounts of stolen data (and an ungodly amount of power) to build hallucinating machines that will tell people to go **** themselves. That is called Gen AI.

There is the "tool", LLMs, and then there is "Gen AI", which is a very specific implementation of that tool.

4) Generative AI models are hallucinating machines that lie to you.

These issues with Gen AI make it unacceptable to use under any circumstances. Especially if you're talking about making an artistic product, like videogames.

Fuck Sandfall Interactive. Fuck Larian Studios. Fuck Gen AI.

3) It's built from the exploitation and abuse of labor. Generative AI models need to be trained by human operatives, usually outsourced to poorly compensated labor with unreliable job security and no benefits. This is the future of the "jobs market" that they want for everyone.

2) It uses stolen data. AI models are trained on copyrighted material and private user information, but you'll never hear anyone who defends AI even bring this up because they want it to be a non-issue.

When you concede any stage of the creative process to AI, you are effectively conceding the rest of it as well for those who come after.

And any artist who would use gen AI has no respect for themselves.

The fact of the matter is that using generative AI in any creative process demonstrates a complete lack of any respect whatsoever for the creative process. You should respect artists, if you want your art to be respected in turn.

It doesn't fucking matter if you won a half dozen Game of the Year awards. Your bullshit is still bullshit. Especially when those awards were in part thanks to actually sincere artists who know full well that Gen AI is bullshit, and fucking said as much when they received the award.

"Holy fuck guys we're not 'pushing hard' for or replacing concept artists with AI." -Sven Vincke

Is Larian this dumb, or are they just convinced that we are? It doesn't matter how little you use Gen AI. The problem is that you're using Gen AI. Larian have demolished their brand as a quality studio.

"Gallego wrote that Democrats are seen as the 'not fun party' and not 'allowing men to men' or 'women to be hot.'”

people.com/ruben-galleg...

Also, would-be American crownmakers like Walmart are dependent on federal subsidies like SNAP for their bottom line. You gotta have that infinite growth, after all, but if Trump stops SNAP in half the country, then America's largest, wealthiest monopoly might take a hit in their profits! God forbid