The Divinity Developer Details Its Application of Generative AI for Upcoming Project

The developer behind popular RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin recently shown its next major project, creating significant anticipation within the player base. However, recent comments from the studio's co-founder have added a new dimension to the conversation, touching on the developer's approach toward machine learning.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a recent message, the studio's founder explained that the company is utilizing generative AI for particular supporting purposes. These include fleshing out PowerPoint slides, generating initial visual ideas, and writing placeholder text.

Notably, Vincke stressed that the shipping assets in the game will be crafted entirely by actual artists. "We are developing every line manually," he stated.

Larian is actively growing our team of writers and are busily putting together writing teams.

Given that concept art is being explicitly called out — we presently have twenty-three artistic staff and have roles to fill for more artists.

Everything we do is incremental and focused on letting our team spend more time on making content.

Every ML tool used well is a boost to a developer's process, not a replacement for their skill.

Tempering Reactions with Clear Intent

The revelation of using AI at first generated unease among portions of the fanbase. In reply, Vincke issued additional elaboration on social media.

"At Larian, we employ machine learning to gather inspiration, in the same way we use the internet and art books," he wrote. "During the initial brainstorming phase we use it as a simple sketch for layout which we then replace with original concept art."

He continued, "Our studio recruits artists for their unique talent, not for their capacity to replicate what a AI generates."

Key Areas of AI Integration

Vincke had previously outlined the studio's targeted strategy to AI and ML, defining its use into key pillars:

• Automation of Tedious Tasks: This encompasses refining animations, audio processing, and pipeline-specific tasks like adjusting assets for various species.
• Fast-Tracked Experimentation: Using technology to quickly build basic models of scenarios to experiment with concepts before full production.
• Experimental Frontiers: Investigating how AI could eventually facilitate innovative gameplay, specifically in managing unforeseen permutations in a complex RPG.

He explicitly stated that central narrative areas — like writing — are are absolutely not areas where the company is cutting artistic involvement. In fact, Larian is actively hiring in these very roles.

"Our studio is not launching a game with any AI components, and we are certainly not looking at trimming down creatives to swap them out with artificial intelligence," Vincke concluded.