Black Myth: Wukong director criticizes AI use in games and performances

Lead performance director Beth Parker, a key staff member behind the action-adventure game Black Myth: Wukong, expressed her strong opposition to using AI in the creative process during a discussion with the BAFT Breakthrough 2024 cohort.

Parker emphasized the importance of human emotion and storytelling in gaming, stating, “I can’t really see myself welcoming AI voices, because I think you’re going to lose the element that people care about when they’re interacting with characters in games, which is human, chaotic emotion, which AI might be able to replicate in intonation, but it will never, ever be able to replicate; you know, the feeling behind something.”

This debate on AI replacing humans in the art world has been ongoing, with proponents arguing for cost-efficiency while critics like Parker and filmmaker Michael Bay decry the loss of personality in AI-generated content.

A YouGov study revealed that 65% of gamers support banning game companies from replacing actors without permission, with 77% opposing the use of AI to replace storywriters. Only 19% believed AI could sometimes outperform humans in creative work.

Beth Parker affirmed that no part of Black Myth: Wukong involved AI and expressed doubt about using it in the future. What are your thoughts on this issue? Share your opinions in the comments!

Black Myth: Wukong was released in August 2024 for Microsoft Windows (via Steam and the Epic Games Store) and PS5, with an Xbox Series X|S release planned.