An indication that is no longer necessary according to Tim Sweeney
Never the last to defend the use of generative AI, the big boss of Epic Games spoke on the subject. While Valve proposes to clearly indicate on a game’s page whether it uses generative AI or not, the Epic Games Store will visibly stay away from any information on this subject. The reason Sweeney gives is that all games will eventually use it anyway, therefore there is no need to note it every time. This is what he says in response to a tweet which wants the indication on the use of AI by a game to no longer be mandatory on an online store:
“ I agree. The AI label is relevant for art exhibitions, to ensure transparency about authorship, and for platforms selling digital content licenses, where buyers must be informed of copyright. It makes no sense for video game stores, where AI will be present in almost all future productions. »
A funny take on the medium from one of the most important people in the industry, but Tim Sweeney is not his first attempt at the provocative genre. This is evidenced by his other response, with an analogy that is certainly intended to be humorous, but definitely misses the point:
“ Why stop at using AI? We could require disclosure of the brand of shampoo used by the developer. Consumers have the right to know! »
Informing the consumer about what they are purchasing nevertheless remains a form of obligation for a platform like the Epic Games Store, and it is not because a practice is widespread that it should not be mentioned (like microtransactions for example). And even as AI begins to become more and more ubiquitous, the consumer should still know what they are buying.