The Unsettling Unity: Grappling With Its AI Tools
Well, here we are again, dipping our toes into the tempestuous seas of tech, this time at the behest of Unity. Yes, Unity, the very same game development platform that’s been weaving enchanting virtual realms for years. Now it’s all set to pioneer new territories in artificial intelligence, or so it hopes. But these territories aren’t looking too inviting, with its latest AI tool offerings, UnityMuse and UnitySentis, sparking concern among the developer community. Not the welcome party they’d hoped for, I’m sure.
Artificial Intelligence or An Ethical Dilemma?
We find ourselves in a world where AI is more than a Hollywood buzzword, and everyone, including your next-door neighbor’s cat, wants to play with AI toys. But Unity’s newest toys, UnityMuse and UnitySentis, are not your usual fun-and-games. They’re making game developers and artists cringe, and no, it’s not because they’re bad at the games.
Let’s set the record straight: these tools are seen as potentially impractical, possibly unethical, and perhaps even legally risky. AI programs have a notorious reputation for pillaging the internet for art, writing, programming—the works—without so much as a polite nod in the direction of the creators. Unity’s latest offerings have simply added fuel to this inferno, pushing everyone to question, “What datasets did you train these on?”
Duck, Duck, UnityMuse and UnitySentis
Unity’s response to these concerns has been, well, less than ideal. An official statement about having “licensed third-party LLMs” (large language models for the uninitiated) did little to pacify developers’ concerns. For some, it seemed like Unity was more eager to hop aboard the AI hype train than to give sincere thought to what developers could really use that’s AI-powered.
Let’s not forget the recent mass lay-offs Unity announced in May, casting a long shadow over their grand promises of productivity. It’s clear that Unity’s AI dive has left many actual game creators with a sour taste. A simple nod towards where they sourced their information from would have gone a long way in reassuring users, but alas, nothing of the sort is in sight.
Looking Forward, With or Without Unity
I believe there is a place for AI in game development, but it has to be intelligently and ethically used. Some studios, like the folks behind Hidden Door, have trained AI on in-house creator’s work in direct collaboration with that person or group. These models can quickly generate concept work that could serve as inspiration or reference.
While Unity’s foray into AI tech may have ruffled some feathers, we cannot forget the exciting potential of these technologies. Unity might have stumbled in this venture, but I hope it can pick itself up, dust off, and forge ahead, taking these criticisms into account.
After all, in the world of game development and technology, it’s always game on.
