Xbox, the popular gaming platform owned by Microsoft, has recently partnered with a startup called Inworld AI to create a generative AI toolset for game developers. This collaboration is expected to span several years and aims to assist and empower creators in the design of dialogue, storylines, and quests for games.
One of the key objectives of this partnership is the development of an “AI design copilot” that can transform prompts into detailed scripts, dialogue trees, quests, and other essential elements of a game. By utilizing generative AI technology, developers will be able to input their ideas and receive intricate scripts in return, similar to how people interact with generative AI chatbots.
Moreover, Xbox and Inworld AI will also work on an “AI character runtime engine” that can be integrated into actual games. This feature will enable players to generate new stories, quests, and dialogues as they progress through the game, providing a dynamic and immersive experience.
Inworld AI, as described on their website, specializes in crafting characters with distinct personalities and contextual awareness. Their technology goes beyond conventional large language models (LLMs), offering developers a fully integrated character engine for AI non-player characters (NPCs). The company collaborated with Lucasfilm’s storytelling studio ILM Immersive on the development of their Droid Maker tool, which was accepted into the Disney Accelerator program.
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While Inworld AI’s technology has not yet been featured in any major game releases and has primarily been used for mods, it has shown significant potential. However, some developers remain apprehensive about these upcoming tools due to concerns about companies using their work to train generative AI without permission. In fact, a group of well-known authors, including John Grisham and George R.R. Martin, sued OpenAI, a competitor in the AI space, accusing the company of copyright infringement.
Additionally, there is concern that these new AI tools could lead to job losses for writers and designers, as developers may opt to rely more on AI-generated content to reduce costs. This fear is not unfounded, as automation and AI have already impacted various industries, leading to job displacements in many cases.
Despite these concerns, Xbox believes that these AI tools will ultimately benefit game developers and contribute to the advancement of the gaming industry. By making it easier for developers to bring their creative visions to life and experiment with new ideas, these tools have the potential to push the boundaries of gaming, improve gameplay, and enhance player connection.
Haiyan Zhang, General Manager of Gaming AI at Xbox, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with Inworld AI. Zhang stated that Xbox will collaborate and innovate with both internal Xbox studios and external third-party studios to develop tools that meet their specific needs and inspire new possibilities for future games.
As the partnership between Xbox and Inworld AI progresses, it will be interesting to see how these AI tools are implemented and the impact they have on game development. With the promise of assisting and empowering creators, these tools may pave the way for innovative and dynamic gaming experiences in the future.
