The Creators of Baldur's Gate 3 Details Its Use of AI Tools for Upcoming Project

The team behind acclaimed RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently unveiled its upcoming project, sparking immense excitement within the gaming community. However, recent remarks from the studio's co-founder have introduced a new dimension to the conversation, addressing the team's philosophy toward generative artificial intelligence.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a recent clarification, Swen Vincke explained that the developer is utilizing machine learning for specific ancillary functions. These encompass enhancing PowerPoint slides, producing initial visual ideas, and drafting draft text.

Notably, Vincke stressed that the shipping assets in the game will be authored solely by human creatives. "Our team is writing all the content ourselves," he stated.

Our studio is continuously growing our team of writers and are busily assembling dedicated writer rooms.

Since this area is being particularly called out — we right now have over twenty artistic staff and have job openings for further creatives.

Everything we do is supplementary and designed to enabling creatives to spend additional energy on the creative process.

Any ML tool implemented properly is additive to a creative team process, not a substitute for their skill.

Tempering Reactions with Clear Intent

The revelation of using AI at first provoked backlash among portions of the community. In reply, Vincke provided further clarification on online platforms.

"At Larian, we employ AI tools to gather inspiration, just like we use search engines and art books," he explained. "During the very early ideation stages we use it as a simple sketch for composition which we then replace with original artwork."

He continued, "Larian brings on talent for their creative vision, not for their willingness to follow what a machine suggests."

Focused Uses for Machine Learning

Vincke had earlier detailed the team's practical method to AI and ML, categorizing its use into primary pillars:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: This includes refining animations, voice editing, and technical processes like adjusting assets for various species.
• Rapid Prototyping ('White Boxing'): Using technology to quickly build rough models of scenarios to experiment with concepts before full implementation.
• Long-Term Aspirations: Exploring how machine learning could eventually create new forms of reactivity, particularly in simulating unforeseen permutations in a complex RPG.

He explicitly affirmed that central narrative domains — such as music composition — are are absolutely not areas where the studio is replacing human involvement. In fact, Larian is recruiting more in these exact roles.

"Larian is neither launching a game with any AI components, nor planning on cutting staff to substitute them with AI," Vincke stated definitively.