Artificial intelligence has society on the brink of massive-scale changes. Already, AI is changing the ways which we create advertising campaigns, learn new skills, understand books, and even (sadly) write books. The gaming industry is proving far from immune from AI’s reach given it’s storyline and graphical aspects. But Valve, the operator of the popular Steam gaming platform, is saying that AI is a no-go in it’s games.
The news of embattled game developers getting decline notices regarding their games that utilize some facet of AI started last week. But up to then, Valve was silent over the matter, leading the developer community into a rightful state of speculation regarding Valve’s stance on AI aspects in games.
Well, Valve has finally responded to the dramas and, as you imagine, they are indeed declining games that use AI in any aspect of the game.
Valve’s concern, according to a statement released by the company, centers around copyright issues.
“Our priority, as always, is to try to ship as many of the titles we receive as we can,” Valve spokesperson Aitchison Boyle said. “We welcome and encourage innovation, and AI technology is bound to create new and exciting experiences in gaming. While developers can use these AI technologies in their work with appropriate commercial licenses, they can not infringe on existing copyrights.”
Valve is right to worry about copyright infringement issues given AI technology doesn’t exactly align with appropriate and necessary licensing protocols. Copyright infringement cases are capable of shutting down major businesses. In fact, some might call copyright infringement the Achilles heel of a major gaming company.
Developers submitting declined games for reasons of AI are refunded submission credits given Valve didn’t have a policy in place at the time of these early rejections. Also, if developers could prove they owned the necessary, required rights to the content, then Valve allowed the game to remain or proceed.
Valve’s decision is undoubtedly a slippery slope, not to mention how rough the process of enforcement will inevitably turn out.
With AI on the brink of an overhaul in so many facets of technology, its clear that the gaming and entertainment industries will have to adapt. And that adaption will begin with establishing protocols and policies that are understood by content contributors and vendors. But it’s going to be a long, arduous, and at times, contested road ahead. That’s clear.