Larian Studios Clarifies Its Application of AI Tools for Upcoming Project

The team behind popular titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently teased its new project, generating significant excitement within the industry. However, follow-up remarks from the company's co-founder have brought nuance to the narrative, touching on the team's approach toward generative artificial intelligence.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a recent message, Swen Vincke detailed that the developer is employing AI technology for specific supporting functions. These encompass fleshing out PowerPoint slides, creating rough visual ideas, and creating temporary copy.

Notably, Vincke stressed that the shipping assets in the game will be crafted solely by real creatives. "Larian is writing all the content manually," he said.

Larian is constantly growing our roster of storytellers and are busily putting together narrative groups.

Given that concept art is being particularly mentioned — we presently have over twenty artistic staff and have job openings for additional artists.

Everything we do is supplementary and aimed at letting our team spend additional energy on making content.

Every ML tool used well is a boost to a developer's workflow, not a substitute for their craft.

Responding to Feedback and Defining the Path

The news of AI usage originally generated concern among a segment of the fanbase. In reply, Vincke issued further clarification on public forums.

"At Larian, we employ AI tools to gather inspiration, just like we use the internet and art books," he stated. "In the conceptual ideation stages we use it as a rough outline for structure which we then replace with hand-crafted artwork."

He continued, "Larian brings on creatives for their creative vision, not for their capacity to follow what a AI generates."

Focused Uses for Machine Learning

Vincke had in the past broken down the company's targeted strategy to machine learning, grouping its use into key pillars:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: Areas like polishing mocap data, audio processing, and technical processes like adjusting assets for various species.
• Accelerated Iteration: Using technology to rapidly prototype basic versions of scenarios to experiment with concepts before complete implementation.
• Long-Term Aspirations: Investigating how AI could eventually facilitate emergent player agency, especially in simulating player-driven narratives in a complex RPG.

He clearly stated that core creative areas — such as music composition — are are in no way areas where the company is reducing creative involvement. On the contrary, Larian is expanding its staff in these precise positions.

"We are neither launching a game with any AI components, and we are certainly not planning on reducing teams to replace them with artificial intelligence," Vincke summarized.