Bethesda’s Todd Howard made important statements about the use of artificial intelligence, one of the most heated topics in the gaming world. Speaking to Eurogamer during the Fallout season two launch event, Howard clarified the studio’s perspective on the role of AI in development. Howard views this technology not as a threat to replace human creativity, but as a “tool” that simplifies developers’ work. In his view, the creative intent behind a work must always come from human artists, and this is a primary principle that will not change.
Todd Howard: AI Cannot Replace Human Creativity
The gaming industry is currently divided on the issue of AI. Figures like Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney argue that AI will be a part of all future production processes, while figures like Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser are much more critical. Todd Howard, on the other hand, takes a more balanced view, similar to Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick. Bethesda is not using AI to create content or assets from scratch. Instead, the studio views this technology as a toolkit and a quality control mechanism in the world-building process.
Howard describes the use of AI as a natural evolution of the studio’s toolset. Using Photoshop as an example to illustrate the situation, the renowned director likens technological advancements to software updates. He notes that just as no one wants to go back to a version of Photoshop from 10 years ago, new AI tools offer a similar level of convenience. However, Howard emphasizes that the purpose of these tools is simply to increase speed and efficiency, while their primary goal is to preserve artistry. He states that what makes Bethesda games special is not the technology itself, but the human touch behind it.
As the role of AI in game development continues to grow, the impact of this technology on creativity remains a matter of curiosity. What are your thoughts on this? Will the use of AI in games kill creativity, or is it a time-saving companion for developers?
