The rapid rise of AI has made a lot of people nervous. In 2022, we all were already stressed by COVID and the tsunami of mass layoffs it caused. So, the emergence of a new technology offering to automate human work in almost all digital industries didn’t add confidence in the future.
The Game Development industry has proven to be especially fertile for integrating AI into content generation, making digital artists among the most vulnerable groups of employees.
Today, looking back at 2022, when Midjourney was launched, we see that the demand for experienced CG artists at both AAA companies and indie studios remains. What has changed, is that knowledge of AI tools has become a competitive advantage for artistic talent
In Mission Hire, a recruitment agency specializing in gaming & tech, we’ve been connecting leading Game Dev companies like Wargaming, My.Games, GCORE with industry talents, and one thing has become clear: AI is here to stay. CG artists will need to adapt, yet the situation is far from bleak. Let’s take a look at the current state of the CG art market within the Game Dev industry, dispel myths, and uncover the truth.
Attitude Towards AI in Art
Artists have always been susceptible to “technological advancements.” We can only imagine how frustrated academic artists must have felt with the introduction of computer graphics. Today, we can’t imagine our lives without digital content. AI represents just another leap forward, one that we will fully understand much later.
The professional artistic community remains concerned, at times even hostile, toward employers’ interest in AI-related skills for potential hires. According to an A16Z Games report, 88% of the surveyed game dev companies are planning to actively integrate AI.
Founders of these companies view AI as a powerful tool to streamline internal processes during the early stages of a project and reduce development costs. They are willing to offer competitive compensation for artists skilled in AI. For instance, the case of Champions of Otherworldly Magic, paying “15,000 USD per month for exactly 10 hours of work” seems an attractive deal, right?
Companies’ Stance on AI
Art department leads typically do not view AI as a cure-all, especially when the workflows are already established and the teams are fully immersed in a particular product. Quality-first companies would prefer to pay a person, who is less technically skilled, but can “see” the game and knows how to make it look cohesive.
AI can significantly speed up the process of generating ideas and finding reference materials, which can otherwise take hours of searching the internet. However, without a trained eye and experience, AI cannot serve as a magic wand.
In AAA companies, there’s a tendency to additionally employ a prompting specialist who would work in pairs with the artist, but the two are not interchangeable.
For indie studios, which are often constrained by limited resources, AI serves as an accelerator. In smaller projects, AI helps fill the gaps in manpower and save time and resources on routine tasks, allowing teams to focus on development and production.
The scope of operations that can be facilitated with the technology is quite extensive. Gen AI models like Midjourney, Sora, and Stable Diffusion, are versatile tools that assist in a wide range of activities, from generating hand-painted textures to brainstorming ideas. Additionally, CG artists can utilize AI to save valuable time and energy on rendering, creating 3D objects, and even character prototypes.
NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is another noteworthy AI tool. This frame-generation technology by NVIDIA uses AI generation in real-time, upscaling lower-resolution images, and producing high-quality graphics without the need for powerful hardware.
Can You Hire An AI Model?
However, it’s crucial to remember that AI engines can’t take responsibility for the results. While generated pieces are often used as drafts or sketches, they often require further manual refinement due to various hallucinations like the one with generating hands.
Another challenge arises during the AI model’s training process, which is constantly ongoing. Generative models always need material to train on. Those trained on human-made datasets may achieve impressive results by replicating the stylistic nuances and color palettes of a particular artist. Although such tools can become valuable assistants for teams and enhance productivity, they won’t be as effective on their own.
Once an artist stops contributing new content, the model will continue training on its own generated assets, leading to creative stagnation and degeneration.
Stable Diffusion or Midjourney won’t be able to breathe life into characters or create settings that are exciting to explore. What they can do is save artists time and energy by automating routine tasks, allowing them to focus on the creative process.
So, AI is a Friend, not an Enemy?
The fear of AI taking over creative jobs in general comes from the misuse and misunderstanding of its potential by amateurs, large corporations, and those who prioritize profit over artistic talent. These entities often view AI as a shortcut or a cost-cutting tool. By doing so, they risk undermining the very foundation of creativity and innovation that drives the industry forward.
The true worth of artistic talent lies in its ability to evoke emotion, tell stories, and push boundaries. Artists bring a unique perspective and a depth of understanding that can’t be replicated by AI. While AI can certainly assist in the creative process, it should be seen as a tool to enhance and support human creativity, not replace it.
