The rapid rise of AI has made many people nervous. In 2022, we are all under pressure from Covid and the quality layoffs it has caused. Therefore, the rise of new technologies can automate human work in almost all digital industries, which does not increase confidence in the future.
The game development industry has proven to be particularly fertile in the generation of content that incorporates AI into content, making digital artists the most vulnerable group of employees.
Today, looking back at 2022, when Midjourney launched, we see that both AAA companies and Indie Studios have a demand for experienced CG artists still. What has changed is that knowledge of AI tools has become a competitive advantage for artistic talents
In Mission Hir, a recruitment agency specializing in gaming and technology, we have been connecting with leading game development companies such as Wargaming, My GameGCORE with industry talents, one thing becomes clear: AI will stay here. CG artists need to adapt, but the situation is far from bleak. Let’s take a look at the current state of the CG art market in the game development industry, eliminate myths and reveal the truth.
Attitude toward AI in art
Artists have always been vulnerable to “technical advancement.” We can only imagine that academic artists must feel frustrated in the introduction of computer graphics. Today, without digital content, we cannot imagine our lives. AI represents another leap that we will fully understand later.
Professional art world Still worriedsometimes hostile, interest in employers’ potential hiring skills related to AI. according to A16Z Game Report88% of surveyed game development companies plan to actively integrate AI.
Founders of these companies believe that AI is a powerful tool to simplify internal processes and reduce development costs at the early stages of a project. They are willing to provide competitive compensation to artists skilled in artificial intelligence. For example, Otherworldly Magic Championpay “$15,000 a month, exactly 10 hours of work“It seems like an attractive deal, right?
The company’s position on AI
Arts department heads do not usually view AI as a treatment, especially when the workflow has been established and the team is completely immersed in a specific product. Quality-first companies would rather pay, and the person who is skilled is less skilled but can “see” the game and know how to make it look cohesive.
Artificial intelligence can significantly speed up the process of generating ideas and finding reference materials that might otherwise take hours to search the internet. However, AI cannot be used as a wand without trained eyes and experience.
In AAA companies, there is a tendency to hire a motivating expert who will work with the artist in pairs, but the two are not interchangeable.
For independent studios that are often limited by limited resources, AI is the accelerator. In smaller projects, AI helps fill gaps in manpower and saves time and resources on daily tasks, allowing teams to focus on development and production.
The technology can facilitate a very wide range of operations. AI generation models like Midjourney, Sora and Stable Diffusion are versatile tools that help you with a wide range of activities, from generating hand-painted textures to brainstorming ideas. Additionally, CG artists can leverage AI to save valuable time and effort on rendering, creating 3D objects and even character prototypes.
NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Supersampling) is another noteworthy AI tool. NVIDIA’s framework generation technology uses AI to generate in real time, reducing low-resolution images and generating high-quality graphics without the need for powerful hardware.
Can you hire an AI model?
However, it is crucial to remember that AI engines cannot be held accountable for results. While the generated fragments are often used as drafts or sketches, they often require further manual refinement due to various hallucinations, such as hands with power generation.
This is another challenge during the training process of AI models, which has been underway. Generative models always require training. Those who train in artificial data sets can achieve impressive results by replicating the styling nuances and color palettes of specific artists. While such tools can be valuable assistants to the team and increase productivity, they won’t work on their own.
Once the artist stops contributing new content, the model will continue to train on its own generated assets, resulting in creative stagnation and transcendence.
Stable diffusion or Midjourney will not be able to call life into characters or create exciting exploration settings. What they can do is to save artists time and effort by automating routine tasks, thus allowing them to focus on the creative process.
So, is AI a friend, not an enemy?
The fear of AI taking over creative work in general comes from the abuse and misunderstanding of its potential by amateurs, big companies, and those who prioritize profit over artistic talents. These entities often view AI as a shortcut or cost-cutting tool. By doing so, they have the potential to undermine the foundations of creativity and innovation that drives the industry forward.
The real value of artistic talent lies in its ability to evoke emotions, tell stories and push boundaries. Artists bring unique perspectives and deep understanding that AI cannot replicate. While AI can certainly assist the creative process, it should be regarded as a tool to enhance and support human creativity rather than replace it.
