The CEO of Larian has stated that the studio is "not replacing concept artists with AI"

Larian Studios’ CEO, Swen Vincke, recently addressed the company's stance on the integration of AI in their creative workflow, in response to reactions from an interview with Bloomberg.

Vincke clarified on social media that Larian is not replacing its concept artists with AI but utilizes it for "exploring references," akin to how Google and art books are employed.

He emphasized, "AI is not used to create concept art; our artists handle that. During the early stages, we use AI for rough compositions, which are later replaced with original art." Vincke added, "Our creatives are valued for their skills, not for echoing a machine's outputs, though they can use these tools to streamline their tasks."

In the Bloomberg article, journalist Jason Schreier discussed Larian's exploration of generative AI under Vincke's leadership.

Schreier noted that the company employs AI for idea exploration, enhancing presentations, and placeholder text composition. He subsequently offered a transcript of his discussion with Vincke to provide further context.

In the transcript, Vincke mentioned that AI accelerates production by allowing more extensive experimentation. "Dialogues aren't written more quickly, nor does scripting speed up; instead, we produce more content," he explained, highlighting that modifications are still human-driven.

When Schreier remarked on the seeming inefficiency, Vincke asserted, "In a tech-driven field, exploration is essential. Missing the chance to utilize a beneficial innovation can be fatal in this industry."

Schreier also highlighted concerns with generative AI, describing it as "poisonous and controversial within creative circles."

Vincke countered, saying, "Many innovations have faced similar opposition. Staying competitive requires adopting cutting-edge technology, or developers risk falling behind."