The Divinity Developer Clarifies Its Application of AI Tools for Next Divinity

The team behind acclaimed RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin recently unveiled its upcoming project, sparking immense anticipation within the player base. However, follow-up comments from the company's figurehead have added a new dimension to the discussion, touching on the studio's approach toward machine learning.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a recent clarification, the studio's founder detailed that the developer is using AI technology for specific ancillary functions. These include fleshing out pitch decks, generating initial visual ideas, and creating placeholder dialogue.

Notably, Vincke emphasized that the final content in the game will be crafted exclusively by human artists. "We are creating all the content in-house," he said.

Larian is constantly increasing our team of storytellers and are busily assembling dedicated writer rooms.

As visual development is being particularly mentioned — we currently have over twenty visual developers and have roles to fill for additional artists.

Each initiative we do is additive and focused on enabling creatives to spend additional energy on the creative process.

Every ML tool applied correctly is additive to a artist's workflow, not a substitute for their skill.

Addressing Concerns and Clarifying the Vision

The revelation of employing this technology originally provoked unease among some the community. In reply, Vincke offered additional detail on online platforms.

"At Larian, we employ machine learning to gather inspiration, similar to we use Google and art books," he wrote. "In the conceptual ideation stages we use it as a basic framework for composition which we then swap out with original concept art."

He noted, "Our studio recruits artists for their unique talent, not for their willingness to execute what a AI generates."

Key Areas of AI Integration

Vincke had earlier detailed the studio's practical strategy to this technology, grouping its use into three main functions:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: Areas like motion capture cleaning, audio processing, and technical processes like adjusting assets for various species.
• Accelerated Iteration: Using systems to rapidly prototype simple versions of scenarios to test concepts before full production.
• Long-Term Aspirations: Investigating how machine learning could one day facilitate new forms of reactivity, specifically in creating player-driven narratives in a complex RPG.

He explicitly noted that key artistic areas — like music composition — are are absolutely not areas where the company is reducing creative involvement. In fact, Larian is expanding its staff in these exact fields.

"Our studio is neither releasing a game with any AI components, and we are certainly not planning on trimming down staff to swap them out with artificial intelligence," Vincke summarized.