A sizzling potato: Generative AI programs have been shaking issues up for over a yr. It could be nearly comical watching all these large firms preventing to one-up one another if it weren’t for the truth that they’re shoving the nascent know-how down everybody’s throats with out permitting an choice to opt-out in lots of instances.
Apart from the apparent risks of deepfakes and disinformation, many have fears that generative AI has come for his or her jobs, they usually aren’t completely improper. In response to nameless insiders, the shift has already quietly begun at Activision Blizzard.
A former Name of Obligation artist claims that final yr, firm heads promised in inner memos that they’d solely use AI to generate idea artwork and different materials that will not go into the sport. Nevertheless, by the tip of 2023, Activision had already launched AI-generated content material within the type of avatar skins in CoD:MW3.
In January, Phil Spencer introduced Microsoft was shedding nearly 2,000 staffers. Though there was no breakdown of the cuts, a second supply advised Wired that a lot of these laid off have been 2D artists. This declare jives with the studio’s eagerness to make use of AI for idea artwork. It additionally is sensible, contemplating that fashions are significantly better at producing 2D artwork than they have been even a yr in the past.
Activision did not restrict the cuts to simply CoD employees. On the identical time that 2D artists have been getting let go at Activision CoD, former Overwatch 2 artist Lucas Annunziata tweeted that Blizzard fired over half of its environmental artwork group. It wasn’t simply temps and junior employees both. Annunziata mentioned Blizzard sacked associate- and senior-level artists, as nicely.
What a fucked up day. Half the surroundings artwork group reduce from OW2, of us I helped rent and prepare. associate-senior ranges searching for work in case your groups have openings plop em beneath.
– �’��-� Lucas Annunziata �-��’� (@Annunziata3D) January 25, 2024
Earlier than bashing Microsoft/Activision Blizzard, do not forget that it is not the one one within the trade contemplating changing people with AI or has already secretly finished so. Embracer introduced its AI ambitions final month, fastidiously labeling it “human-centric,” after shedding 1,500 staff since June 2023. Many others have reduce their workforce by double-digit percentages, citing all the things however AI.
If studios are already shedding some extremely gifted artists as a result of AI can create satisfactory artwork without spending a dime, the difficulty will solely escalate because the fashions get higher. Right this moment, 2D artists are shedding their jobs. It might be 3D artists, set creators, stage designers, and even programmers on the chopping block tomorrow.
