Activision Reportedly Sold Call of Duty DLC Made In Part With AI
The use of AI in video game development has become a hot-button issue in recent months, especially at the very top of the industry. Now, a wide-ranging report claims that Call of Duty publisher Activision sold cosmetics that were partially made with AI.
The piece, which comes via Wired, describes a climate of fear and anxiety surrounding the use of AI in the gaming industry, especially for 2D artists. It opens with a quote from an alleged email from former Activision chief technology officer Michael Vance, stating that artificial intelligence was “top of mind” for the publisher, and that the systems “hold a ton of promise.”
An internal memo cited later in the piece apparently approved the use of generative AI tools like GPT-3.5 to create concept art and marketing materials. A cosmetic created by AI was then reportedly released Modern Warfare 3 through the in-game store. The Wired report links to the Yokai’s Wrath bundle, which includes a skin, loading screen, sticker, and more, though it’s unclear exactly what was generated by AI.