Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser has sharply critiqued the push for AI in creative industries, likening the technology to 'mad cow disease' during a recent radio interview. Speaking on Virgin Radio UK, Houser questioned the motives of executives promoting AI and warned of its potential self-destructive path. His remarks come amid growing use of AI in game development.
Background on Dan Houser
Dan Houser, who co-founded Rockstar Games and contributed to titles like Grand Theft Auto before leaving the studio in 2020, is currently promoting his upcoming novel. The book incorporates AI themes and shares a setting with a game in development at his new studio. Houser's comments reflect ongoing debates about technology's role in creativity, particularly in gaming.
Key Quotes from the Interview
In his discussion with host Chris Evans on Virgin Radio UK, Houser expressed skepticism about AI advocates. "Some of these people trying to define the future of humanity, creativity, or whatever it is using AI, are not the most humane or creative people," he said. He added, "Humanity is being pulled in a direction by a certain group of people, who maybe aren't fully-rounded humans."
Houser drew a stark analogy to illustrate AI's risks: "I think that AI is gonna eventually eat itself, because as far as I understand it - which is really superficial - the models scour the internet for information, but the internet's going to get more and more full of information made by the models. So it's sort of like when we fed cows with cows and got mad cow disease." He acknowledged AI's strengths, noting it will "do some tasks brilliantly, but it's not going to do every task brilliantly."
Echoes from Previous Appearance
These views align with Houser's recent TV interview on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, where he stated, "We have a whole field of areas we need technology for and AI's great at some of the tasks and can't do the other tasks yet." He criticized overhyped claims, saying AI companies "will claim it can solve every single problem and it really can't yet."
Context in Game Development
AI's integration into gaming varies by studio. Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, director of The Witcher 3, told Eurogamer, "I don't feel that games created with only AI will have soul." Developers of the game Dispatch added, "Maybe AI is a creative solution if you aren't a creative person." Houser's perspective highlights tensions between innovation and artistic integrity in the industry.