Summary
The CEO ofHasbrojust made a shocking revelation: the entertainment conglomerate has already begun implementing AI in the development of Wizards of the Coast products, includingDungeons and DragonsandMagic: The Gathering. This confirmation comes after a year of controversies over the use of generative AI inHasbroand Wizards of the Coast products, and in spite of several affirmations it would not do so.
Over the last couple of years, Hasbro subsidiary Wizards of the Coast, has been involved in multiple controversies involvingAI-generated artwork inDungeons and DragonsandMagic: The Gatheringproducts. Wizards of the Coast has since banned the use of generative AI in the creation of art and text in both the TTRPG and TCG.
However, Hasbro CEO Chris Cocksrecently went on the recordwith information seemingly to the contrary. “Inside of development, we’ve already been using AI,” Cocks said during a Goldman Sachs Communacopia tech conference in response to questions about cutting costs with AI. “I play [D&D] with probably 30 or 40 people regularly. There’s not a single person who doesn’t use AI somehow for either campaign development or character development or story ideas. That’s a clear signal that we need to be embracing it." He proposed ideas like using AI to create stories, to let users generate content, and to streamline thenew player experience not only inDungeons and Dragons, but “also multiple of our brands.”
History of Wizards of the Coast AI Controversies
During the same talk, Cocks assured the audience Hasbro would use AI responsibly and continue to pay creators appropriately for their works, but few artists believe that is possible. To train generative AI to create art or text, developers must train it on existing works. This has led many creatives to denounce the use of AI, as it is plagiaristic and threatens their livelihoods, since it is faster and cheaper to use than hiring actual artists and writers.
“Inside of development, we’ve already been using AI… I play [D&D] with probably 30 or 40 people regularly. There’s not a single person who doesn’t use AI somehow for either campaign development or character development or story ideas. That’s a clear signal that we need to be embracing it."
Not long after the conference,Wizards of the Coast put out a new FAQreaffirming its anti-AI policy. “Human beings are fallible, whether it is a conglomerate of human beings (like a company) or a single human being (like an artist),” the conclusion states. “We have been consistent in our position with respect to generative AI inMagic: The GatheringandDungeons & Dragonsart, and we want our community to know that we are working to ensure they can see us deliberating on how best to meet that commitment, even if we all occasionally stumble along the way.”
Like the company’s previous statements, this assertion seems to go directly against Cocks’ words during the conference. With this apparent clash of intentions between the Hasbro CEO and Wizards of the Coast’s vision forAI’s future inDungeons and Dragonsand beyond, fans should be sure to make their own opinions known so that the games continue to develop in a way they are happy to support.
Dungeons and Dragons
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
