Saber Interactive has included an AI disclaimer for Rideshare on Steam, with CEO Matt Karch issuing an apology to the former lead writer.

Gameplay from Rideshare Simulator. A man with a red suitcase hails an orange SUV with a "The Verve" logo on the side while standing on a sidewalk next to a bus stop, with a grand building in the background. Image credit: Saber Interactive

Saber Interactive has placed a disclaimer concerning the use of AI in the game Rideshare Simulator on its Steam page after facing criticism over accusations that suggested a game writer was replaced with AI-generated content.

The entire statement details:

The core story, characters, and dialogue of the main campaign are crafted by a team of human writers. Specific tools powered by AI are utilized for voice generation and certain localization tasks.

The game offers an optional Free Ride mode, which includes AI-generated passenger missions and dialogue, distinct from the main campaign. Players can bypass this mode if they opt for a purely human-authored experience.

Music within the game is a combination of tracks created by humans and AI. Radio stations that feature AI-composed music are clearly marked in the game.

This notice follows comments by Saber CEO Matt Karch about Stella Sacco, a writer employed from July 2023 to July 2024, who claimed she was removed midway through the project's development in favor of ChatGPT, and that AI was used in other capacities without prior discussion.

Karch reacted by stating Sacco was eventually replaced by a more skilled individual for various reasons and noted, "in hindsight [he] would have gladly used AI to replace her."

"Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," Karch mentioned to This Week In Videogames. "We have already announced our use of AI in specific game aspects and will revise the Steam page once we finalize the features."

Karch expressed optimism regarding AI’s role, suggesting it enhances value for consumers, pointing out that the game will be available at a lower price point.

Over the weekend, Sacco shared on BlueSky that Karch had "apologized unconditionally for the harsh remarks made about me publicly." She stated her continual stance on the truth of her account and acknowledged Karch’s apology, indicating she requires time to decide on next steps regarding his proposal to make amends.

Additionally, Karch addressed the situation publicly on LinkedIn. "I reacted impulsively to certain remarks made later (reasons withheld) and acted without due consideration," he explained. "Mistakes occur, and I am a human being. I am taking steps to amend the situation."