Generative AI, a subfield of artificial intelligence, has been making significant progress in recent years. From generating realistic-looking images and videos to creating music and even writing articles, generative AI has come a long way. However, as a recent experiment with Midjourney, a generative AI project, showed, there are still areas where AI struggles to create accurate and realistic content, especially when it comes to the gaming industry.
The experiment involved asking Midjourney to generate a simple image of a person having fun playing video games. However, the resulting image showed a female influencer holding an abomination of a game controller that looked like it came out of a horror movie. The image was a clear reminder that, while generative AI has made significant progress, it still has a long way to go before it can accurately and realistically represent the gaming industry.
One of the reasons why the experiment failed was the overly broad prompt. The prompt, while intuitive to the average person, was too vague for the AI system to understand. As many commenters suggested, a more specific prompt, such as “female influencer playing FIFA 22 on Xbox Series X,” would have resulted in a more accurate and realistic image.
However, the biggest culprit for the AI system’s failure was the lack of images of the back of game controllers. Most of the promotional images released by gaming companies showcase the front of the controllers, leaving the back of the controller largely undocumented. As a result, generative AI struggles to create accurate representations of the back of game controllers, resulting in abominations like the one created by Midjourney.
The experiment highlights one of the biggest weaknesses of generative AI: its inability to bridge gaps in missing information. While AI can create variations on existing content, it struggles to create accurate and realistic content when there is little or no existing information available. This limitation has significant implications for the gaming industry as game developers and designers often rely on creative and imaginative content to create new games and experiences.
The gaming industry has been quick to adopt new technologies and has always been at the forefront of innovation. However, the limitations of generative AI suggest that the industry will need to continue to rely on human creativity and imagination for some time. While generative AI may be able to create variations on existing content, it cannot replace the human element that is essential for creating truly innovative and groundbreaking games.
While generative AI has made significant progress in recent years, its limitations are still apparent when it comes to creating accurate and realistic representations of the gaming industry. The experiment with Midjourney highlights the need for more specific prompts and the importance of documenting all aspects of the gaming industry. While generative AI has a role to play in the gaming industry, it cannot replace the human creativity and imagination that are essential for creating truly innovative and groundbreaking games.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how it incorporates generative AI into its processes. Some game developers have already started experimenting with using generative AI for level design and character creation. However, as the Midjourney experiment shows, there are still significant limitations to generative AI that need to be addressed before it can be fully integrated into the gaming industry.
One potential application of generative AI in the gaming industry is for creating realistic NPCs (non-player characters). NPCs play a significant role in many games, and creating realistic and believable characters is essential for immersing players in the game world. By using generative AI to create realistic and unique personalities, game developers could create more engaging and immersive game worlds.
Another potential application is for creating realistic game environments. Game environments often require extensive planning and design, and generative AI could be used to generate realistic and varied environments quickly. However, as with character creation, there are limitations to generative AI when it comes to creating truly unique and innovative game environments.
Overall, while generative AI has limitations when it comes to creating accurate and realistic representations of the gaming industry, it still has significant potential for improving game development processes. By incorporating generative AI into their workflows, game developers can create more engaging and immersive game worlds and free up time and resources for more creative and imaginative tasks.
The gaming industry will continue to be at the forefront of innovation, and generative AI will play an increasingly significant role in the industry. While generative AI has limitations, its potential for improving game development processes is significant. As the technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how game developers and designers incorporate generative AI into their workflows and what new innovations will emerge as a result.
