The Divinity Developer Clarifies Its Implementation of AI Tools for Next Project

The studio behind hit titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently teased its new project, sparking significant excitement within the player base. However, recent remarks from the studio's co-founder have added a new dimension to the narrative, touching on the developer's approach toward machine learning.

A Tool for Ideation, Not Replacement

In a recent message, Swen Vincke outlined that the developer is using machine learning for certain ancillary purposes. These involve fleshing out PowerPoint slides, creating early-stage concept art, and creating draft dialogue.

Notably, Vincke emphasized that the shipping assets in the game will be created entirely by actual artists. "Larian is creating every line manually," he stated.

Our studio is constantly increasing our team of writers and are actively assembling narrative groups.

As this area is being explicitly referenced — we right now have twenty-three visual developers and have job openings for more talent.

Everything we do is incremental and aimed at enabling creatives to spend additional energy on making content.

Every AI system applied correctly is additive to a developer's process, not a replacement for their skill.

Tempering Reactions with Clear Intent

The revelation of AI usage at first sparked concern among portions of the community. In reaction, Vincke offered more elaboration on public forums.

"At Larian, we employ these tools to gather inspiration, in the same way we use the internet and reference books," he stated. "During the very early brainstorming phase we use it as a simple sketch for structure which we then substitute with hand-crafted illustrations."

He noted, "Larian brings on creatives for their unique talent, not for their capacity to execute what a AI generates."

Key Areas of AI Integration

Vincke had previously outlined the company's targeted approach to machine learning, categorizing its use into primary functions:

• Streamlining Repetitive Work: This includes refining animations, audio processing, and Larian-specific work like adjusting assets for various species.
• Fast-Tracked Experimentation: Using systems to quickly build simple versions of gameplay ideas to validate concepts ahead of expensive development.
• Experimental Frontiers: Exploring how AI could one day create emergent gameplay, especially in simulating player-driven narratives in a vast role-playing world.

He specifically stated that central narrative areas — such as visual art — are not departments where the company is reducing human talent. In fact, Larian is recruiting more in these exact roles.

"Larian is neither releasing a game with any AI components, and we are certainly not looking at trimming down staff to swap them out with AI," Vincke concluded.