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

The studio behind popular RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin just teased its upcoming project, creating immense excitement within the player base. However, follow-up statements from the studio's co-founder have brought nuance to the narrative, addressing the developer's philosophy toward AI tools.

A Tool for Ideation, Not Replacement

In a new statement, Swen Vincke explained that the company is employing machine learning for certain ancillary tasks. These include fleshing out presentation materials, generating rough concept art, and drafting draft text.

Notably, Vincke stressed that the end material in the game will be created solely by real writers. "Our team is creating every line ourselves," he affirmed.

Larian is constantly expanding our roster of concept artists and are actively assembling dedicated writer rooms.

As this area is being particularly mentioned — we currently have over twenty concept artists and have roles to fill for additional artists.

All our efforts we do is additive and aimed at letting our team spend additional energy on actual creation.

Any ML tool applied correctly is a boost to a developer's process, never a stand-in for their craft.

Tempering Reactions with Clear Intent

The admission of using AI at first generated concern among portions of the player base. In response, Vincke issued additional detail on social media.

"Our team utilizes AI tools to gather inspiration, just like we use the internet and art books," he explained. "During the initial ideation stages we use it as a rough outline for composition which we then replace with original artwork."

He continued, "Our studio recruits creatives for their inherent skill, not for their ability to follow what a machine suggests."

Focused Uses for Machine Learning

Vincke had earlier broken down the company's practical approach to AI and ML, defining its use into three main areas:

• Streamlining Repetitive Work: This includes motion capture cleaning, audio processing, and technical processes like adjusting assets for various species.
• Rapid Prototyping ('White Boxing'): Using systems to quickly build rough versions of gameplay ideas to validate concepts ahead of full development.
• Experimental Frontiers: Exploring how AI could eventually facilitate new forms of reactivity, particularly in managing unforeseen permutations in a vast role-playing world.

He specifically stated that core creative disciplines — including writing — are are absolutely not departments where the company is replacing artistic involvement. Conversely, Larian is recruiting more in these precise fields.

"We are not shipping a game with machine-made assets, and we are certainly not looking at reducing teams to swap them out with AI," Vincke summarized.