The Divinity Developer Explains Its Implementation of AI Tools for Next Divinity Game
The studio behind popular titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin recently shown its upcoming project, generating a wave of hype within the industry. However, follow-up comments from the studio's co-founder have introduced nuance to the narrative, addressing the studio's approach toward generative artificial intelligence.
AI as a Creative Assistant, Not a Substitute
In a new clarification, the studio's founder detailed that the developer is using AI technology for specific supporting purposes. These include fleshing out PowerPoint slides, generating early-stage visual ideas, and drafting draft text.
Importantly, Vincke emphasized that the shipping content in the game will be created solely by actual artists. "Our team is developing all the content in-house," he affirmed.
Larian is continuously increasing our roster of storytellers and are actively assembling narrative groups.
Since visual development is being explicitly referenced — we presently have over twenty visual developers and have job openings for additional creatives.
Everything we do is incremental and aimed at enabling creatives to spend greater focus on making content.
Every machine learning application used well is additive to a artist's workflow, never a stand-in for their talent.
Tempering Reactions with Clear Intent
The admission of AI usage originally provoked unease among portions of the community. In reaction, Vincke offered further clarification on online platforms.
"At Larian, we employ machine learning to explore references, in the same way we use Google and reference books," he stated. "In the initial ideation stages we use it as a simple sketch for composition which we then swap out with authentic concept art."
He added, "Larian brings on creatives for their creative vision, not for their willingness to follow what a algorithm proposes."
Key Areas of AI Integration
Vincke had in the past outlined the team's practical strategy to this technology, grouping its use into three main pillars:
- Streamlining Repetitive Work: Areas like refining animations, dialogue cleanup, and technical processes like adjusting assets for various species.
- Accelerated Iteration: Using technology to quickly build simple mock-ups of scenarios to experiment with concepts ahead of expensive production.
- Experimental Frontiers: Exploring how AI could eventually facilitate emergent reactivity, specifically in simulating player-driven narratives in a complex RPG.
He specifically affirmed that core creative areas — such as writing — are are absolutely not fields where the studio is cutting creative talent. In fact, Larian is recruiting more in these exact positions.
"Larian is not releasing a game with machine-made assets, and we are certainly not considering cutting staff to replace them with artificial intelligence," Vincke stated definitively.
