Black Ops 6 Using Generative AI Is Inexcusable

Necroclaus is just one example of Activision Blizzard apparently using the tech to cut corners.

[Christopher]

They. Do. Not. Care. As. Long. As. People. Give. Them. Money.

[Elit3Nick]

^

[Petebloodyonion]

My only issue is that it's no mentioned anywhere that the art is made by AI.
For the rest I see no problem with unlocking (for free) Nameplate, loading screen, players icon made by a AI versus unlocking nothing due to production cost.

Still it's something that need to be clearly specified so players can make a clear choice to support or not.

[ravens52]

I thought maybe I was trippn but maybe not. What is that on the guys left wrist on bo6 main screen.

[gerbintosh]

What is telling the consumer that the art was made by AI going to accomplish? I feel a majority of people that play this game don't care about whether it was made by AI

[thesoftware730]

Lol, it's a 6 fingered Santa zombie with a unusual wrapped gift.

WGAF?

If people are this mad over AI generated things, then they better be prepared, because almost every industry is about to become more reliant on AI, in every department. I kinda get the"outrage", but there are way more important things to be outraged about than something that really don't affect the game, or the gameplay at all.

I'm not speaking for everyone, I'm just giving my opinion here...I personally can't see myself getting upset about this.

[Kombatologist]

It's the principle. Not only are you paying for something that literally took zero effort for Activision to make, but it's also potentially taking away someone's job.

[Petebloodyonion]

Please clarify what additional costs, if any, are incurred after purchasing the initial game to acquire this piece of art. This AI-generated art is part of a free event in multiplayer mode, and Activision is under no obligation to create such content or events. To date, players have paid full price for a 12-hour cinematic campaign, an evolving zombie survival game, and a multiplayer mode with more options than many other games.

I have yet to see a game that offers the same value for diverse content relative to the dollars spent.

[Kombatologist]

@Petebloodyonion You're only taking into consideration those who have already purchased the game. What about those who haven't yet? Or those who spend money on the DLC bundles? Now that there's AI-generated content in BO6, additional costs or not, you're now supporting those elements simply by playing the game, buying DLC, etc. I'm not saying there's no place for AI in video games, but there has to be some transparency about it. You can't just slip it into a AAA game hoping it will go unnoticed as people continue to support your game.

@gamerz You tried.

[Christopher]

I guess we'll save our outrage for when your job is affected by AI then?

[__y2jb]

So what should happen? Make AI illegal? Any other technological advancements you'd like to ban while we're at it?

[thesoftware730]

Jobs are affected everyday, for many different reasons, as technology advances more things become automated, it's been this way throughout human history. People and society adapts to these changes. Outrage and offense are always present until that adaption takes hold.

It's a like it, or not, ... factual evolution of things.

[Christopher]

***Jobs are affected everyday, for many different reasons, as technology advances more things become automated, it's been this way throughout human history.***

Those automations actually created more jobs because there was more to do with the task being automated. People had to maintain the machines automating the work, people could create more and more complex things because of automation. It's why our cars are more like computers now, because of automation, but still requiring more parts to be manufacutred in many ways to support those aspects. AI isn't any of that. It's literally just taking other peoples' work, letting the machine learn from it, and not evolving to create new opportunities, only take them.

This acting like it's just life is why we've seen transition of power away from the workforce to CEOs. You're so apathetic to the issues that you'll just let someone steal jobs from others and eventually yourself.

[OtterX]

@__y2jb Yes, make ripping art from artists who have not given their consent illegal, you're absolutely correct.

The problem isn't inherently the use of AI, but feeding the learning models in an unethical way with stolen work.

I would not have a problem with it if AI only operated within a closed space, like a library of consenting artists who were paid, much like Adobe Stock images or something. But ripping without consent should absolutely be illegal.

[__y2jb]

Downvotes for a perfectly reasonable take smh.

Everyone is freaking out about game dev costs spiralling and yet equally people are outraged when devs do something to cut costs.

AI is scary for sure but its here and it will affect the world as much or more than the arrival of the internet. You can't fight it.

[oldenjon]

@gamerz WOW it never ceases to amaze me how out of touch and self-deluded people can be. You are truly exceptional

[TwoPicklesGood]

People want to get mad and will do so over anything. It’s nuts.

[Dazelya]

Do you think that even if this image was created with AI, no one noticed it? Read the name of the game again...

[GoodGuy09]

I mean AI isn't all bad in video games, development can go faster and as long as it's within reason.

Unlesss you're a multibillion dollar company like Activision so it's definitely inexcusable especially for a top seller like COD lol. Obviously they don't care as the games will still sell millions, they've been reusing assets for who knows how long. Just tweeks here and therem

[Fishy Fingers]

Man that aritcle escaslated quickly, from Santa having 6 fingers to Satya Nadella's earnings and income equality within 2 paragraphs. What?

[MetroidFREAK21]

Are we surprised at this point?

[Kombatologist]

Add it to the list of things wrong with this game:

- Bugs that haven't been fixed in weeks
- AW-like TTK
- Bad servers
- Little to no recoil on most weapons
- Ridiculous operator skins and advantageous bullet effects
- What flinch?

Can't speak for the campaign yet, but multiplayer is ass.

[Destiny1080]

i gave up on Ai when it translated

I'm looking for the local bus
into
I'm looking for the local boss

[goken]

Maybe It has 6 fingers because it’s black ops 6?

[hard joe]

AI means less money for employees more money for CEO
hope some gamers will become the adjusters to depose defend deny the CEOs

[anast]

The game is a cultural sewer. What else did people expect?

[DustMan]

Maybe just let the A.I. build the entire game. It's copy and paste anyway.

[CrimsonWing69]

We need to get the f*ck off this AI is “bad” trend. It will help games come out faster by cutting the work load. You can have people tweak art, but think coding and debugging as well. Or having AI work when people are asleep. I don’t care that they’ve used generative AI and I welcome this technology, not only for industry use, but also public use.

[Christopher]

I don't want games made faster. I want them made better. That's a human element issue, not AI.

[CrimsonWing69]

How do you know AI won’t make a game better? How many games have you seen that come out poorly to how many games come out that are “made better” by people?

I would think AI could do a better job, especially in terms of programming or technical elements that require machine computing.

I’m not saying take out the human element from design. AI is a powerful tool and we should utilize it, which in turn can not only help how fast a game is made, but also make a better game. Let’s just see what AI can do before we say humans do it better.

[Christopher]

*** I would think AI could do a better job, especially in terms of programming or technical elements that require machine computing. ***

We have engines that have used AI-generative concepts for a decade now. The problem isn't the code, it's the requirements of the code of those making the game. Let alone the fact that things change tremendously over the time of making a game and you don't just start over from scratch. Let alone AI can't fix the issues of engines.

When a designer creates a quest in Y1 of development, what comes out in Y4 could be vastly different because of so many changes during the development of the game. Look at CP2077 that went from a TPS to FPS, changes all the skills around, and then had to go through every bit of content to not only make sure the game worked with what they finally went with but was also bug free.

This is not an AI issue.

[thesoftware730]

The same people cursing AI are the same people that like it in certain applications.

It's ok in your cellphone, it's ok in your console (points to PS5 PRO), it's ok in your PC, it's ok for some people to use it for college reports, it's ok to use it in personal assistants, but nope, not ok to make a free, non-game changing loading screen piece of art..how silly.

If you are against it, be against it in everything, and don't use products that support it in any form or fashion.

[Christopher]

I do want to be clear, I am not cursing AI. But, I do think a human artist will always be better than AI artist. I fully support using AI for concepts, but the end work should be done by a human and not the extremely lazy-assed AI that Activision is putting out. It's just sad.

But, since you are generalizing, the people saying we should just get over AI and accept it completely and that people losing jobs over it is just a part of life are the same people who don't realize they're also on the chopping block with this type of thinking.

It's a tool. It should be used as one, not a replacement for an entire person or team of people.

[thesoftware730]

I already addressed you comment about replacing people above, yes jobs will be loss, and people will be impacted, and outrage will be present, but it's inevitable.

To adapt to societal change when something is broadly integrated is the way of the world. The Internet is an example, many things changed with its mass inception, some good, and some bad, scams were easier to carry out, hacking, fraud, cyber bullying, privacy issues, harmful propaganda , it even affected how we choose political leaders, ,and the dark web, all boosted by the Internet, miss-deeds are still present, but society adapted.

Jobs were loss as the middle man got cut out in many industries , people gained the ability to self promote, create t.v and video content without having to hire anyone, brick and mortar music stores and video rental business went the way of the dodo, physical media, such as tapes, DVDs,, Blue Ray and physical games took a major hit, whole distribution center of worker were shut down due to the way content can be distributed, physical book sales dropped tremendously, leaving people out of work, I could go on, because that is only the tip of the sword..but yet, we adapt.

The cycle of technology and automation is not new and AI is just the next in line, with many more game changers to come.

But I know exactly what you are saying, and you don't have to like it, and it's ok, but it is the fact of things.

[TwoPicklesGood]

AI is the future and it should be used. Why limit yourself and deliberately make things harder. That said, they should edit the art to make sure it looks good and not just blindly use it.