Google study shows 87% of game devs use AI now

In the wake of a period of record layoffs, a new survey has revealed that the vast majority of videogame developers are turning to AI to streamline their operations. The poll shows that a massive 87% of developers are now implementing AI agents, as the industry grapples with ballooning development costs and intense competition.

According to the study from Google Cloud and The Harris Poll (via Reuters), which polled over 600 game developers across the US and Europe, their primary use for AI is the automation of repetitive and laborious tasks, freeing them up to focus on more creative problems. This push for efficiency is driven by the overwhelming belief that AI is the key to managing rising costs, with 94% of respondents anticipating that the technology will ultimately lower their overall development budgets in the long run.

However, this rapid adoption is not without anxiety. The survey highlights the deep concerns within the industry regarding the impact of AI on jobs, compensation, and intellectual property. Nearly two-thirds of developers voiced worries about the ownership of AI-generated material and the legal questions surrounding it. These concerns echo the sentiments that led to last year's video game actors' strike, which was partly fuelled by fears of AI replacing human performers.

While the promise of AI is clear, its implementation is proving to be a challenge. About one in four developers admitted they struggle to accurately measure the return on their AI investments, showing it's not yet a simple magic bullet for cost-saving.

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KitGuru says: It's not surprising to see so many developers using AI to help them on their job. Even if there are still some ethical questions around AI in creative jobs such as this, it's clear that using AI has already become the norm for developers, within and outside the video game industry.

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