The Creators of Baldur's Gate 3 Explains Its Application of Machine Learning for New Divinity

The studio behind acclaimed titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently unveiled its upcoming project, sparking significant excitement within the player base. However, follow-up statements from the company's figurehead have introduced nuance to the discussion, addressing the developer's philosophy toward machine learning.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a new clarification, the studio's founder outlined that the company is utilizing AI technology for particular preliminary purposes. These include developing PowerPoint slides, creating initial visual ideas, and creating placeholder copy.

Notably, Vincke made clear that the final content in the game will be created exclusively by actual writers. "We are writing everything ourselves," he said.

We are actively growing our team of concept artists and are currently assembling writing teams.

Since visual development is being explicitly called out — we right now have over twenty visual developers and have positions available for further artists.

Each initiative we do is supplementary and designed to having people spend more time on making content.

Any AI system implemented properly is a boost to a artist's process, never a stand-in for their craft.

Tempering Reactions with Clear Intent

The news of employing this technology at first provoked backlash among a segment of the community. In reply, Vincke offered more clarification on public forums.

"Our team utilizes AI tools to explore references, just like we use the internet and reference books," he explained. "In the initial brainstorming phase we use it as a basic framework for layout which we then swap out with authentic artwork."

He continued, "We've hired artists for their inherent skill, not for their willingness to execute what a AI generates."

Focused Uses for Machine Learning

Vincke had earlier detailed the company's focused strategy to this technology, categorizing its use into three main areas:

• Automation of Tedious Tasks: This encompasses motion capture cleaning, audio processing, and Larian-specific work like retargeting animations.
• Accelerated Iteration: Using tools to quickly build basic models of scenarios to test concepts ahead of full production.
• Future Potential for Gameplay: Exploring how AI could eventually create new forms of player agency, specifically in simulating player-driven narratives in a vast role-playing world.

He explicitly affirmed that core creative areas — such as music composition — are are in no way fields where the company is reducing creative talent. Conversely, Larian is actively hiring in these precise roles.

"Our studio is not releasing a game with any AI components, and we are certainly not planning on trimming down teams to replace them with AI," Vincke summarized.