Artificial Intelligence
Ongoing coverage on Artificial Intelligence.
Latest coverage
The bigwigs who want AI-generated NPCs and writing think you're too dumb to appreciate a good…
This article argues that the push for AI-generated NPCs and dialogue in video games misunderstands the value of handcrafted details in creating immersive worlds and compelling narratives. The author contends that while AI might offer efficiency, it cannot replicate the creativity and nuance that human writers bring to background chatter, environmental storytelling, and characterization, ultimately leading to shallower game experiences. The piece criticizes industry figures who believe players won't notice or care about the difference, asserting that true game design relies on thoughtful, human-driven content.
Social media star Sterre Meijer on getting her own skateboarding game, online hate, and, weirdly, being mistaken for AI
Social media star Sterre Meijer has become the face of Skatesterre, a new arcade skateboarding game developed by Goon Squad and published by Headup. Despite not being a gamer herself, Meijer was heavily involved in the character's design, ensuring it reflected her personal style. The game aims to offer a more feminine representation in the male-dominated skateboarding genre and is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
SpaceX has officially acquired AI coding startup Cursor
SpaceX has officially acquired the AI coding startup Cursor. The acquisition is valued at $60 billion and has been finalized.
How Battlestar Galactica Spent 14 Years Waiting To Beat Star Trek At Its Own Game
This article analyzes how Battlestar Galactica's Cylons evolved to surpass Star Trek's robotic antagonists, particularly the Borg. Initially less frightening than Doctor Who's Cybermen, the original Cylons were overshadowed by the Borg's introduction in Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, Ronald D. Moore's 2003 reboot of Battlestar Galactica redefined the Cylons with human-like appearances and a more complex, insidious threat, ultimately establishing them as the pinnacle of robotic villains in science fiction.
Saber finally adds AI disclosure to Rideshare Stimulator amid CEO's public feud with a former writer who claims she…
Saber Interactive has added an AI disclosure to its upcoming game Rideshare Stimulator on Steam, following a public dispute between CEO Matt Karch and former writer Stella Sacco. Sacco alleged she was replaced by AI, while Karch claimed she was terminated for other reasons and that AI usage was always intended to be disclosed. The disclosure states AI tools were used for voice generation, localization, and optional Free Ride mode content, including AI-generated music on certain radio stations.
Rideshare Stimulator Outlines AI Usage After Contentious Exchange With Ex-Writer
Saber Interactive has clarified its use of AI in the upcoming game Rideshare Stimulator following accusations from ex-writer Stella Sacco that she was replaced by ChatGPT. The company states AI is used for voice generation and some localization, with AI-generated passenger missions and music clearly labeled. The main campaign story, characters, and dialogue are confirmed to be human-written.
Google will now allow users to remove visible watermarks from AI content
Google will now allow users to remove visible watermarks from AI-generated content, though the invisible SynthID watermark will remain. This policy change affects how AI-generated media is identified and shared.
After a public scrap between CEO and former writer, Saber Interactive finally adds AI disclaimer to Steam page and doubles down: 'AI can and should help shape gamer experiences'
Saber Interactive has added an AI disclaimer to its Steam page following a public dispute with former writer Stella Sacco, who claimed she was replaced by AI. CEO Matt Karch defended the company's use of AI in game development, stating it can enhance gamer experiences and that the cost of integration was higher than omitting it. The controversy highlights ongoing discussions about AI's role in the gaming industry and developer transparency.
Microsoft's blobby AI companion has begun his ascent to the heavens to join Clippy and Cortana. Okay, he's…
Microsoft is removing its AI companion character, Mico, from Copilot's voice mode and relocating it to the 'Learn Live' platform as a teaching assistant. Mico, described as an emotive blob, helped Microsoft learn about warmth and expressiveness in AI interactions. The company states these learnings will shape Copilot's future development.
Evening Reading - August 13, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers various game reviews including Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. It also notes that Pokemon Bank will end service in February 2027 and discusses potential AI training on Twitch VODs. Additionally, Crimson Desert's Switch 2 port is rumored for early 2027.
Mico, Microsoft's weird lil' AI guy, has been demoted
Microsoft's artificial intelligence mascot, Mico, has been demoted and will no longer be featured in Copilot Voice. The amorphous corporate character's role has been significantly reduced.
Viral Pokemon PC port Gen1Recomp gets Gold support, as dev says it's "not vibe coded" even though…
The viral Pokemon PC port Gen1Recomp has implemented beta support for Pokemon Gold, in addition to its existing support for Red, Blue, and Yellow. Developer BryanThaBoi confirmed that AI was used in the development of the project, distinguishing it from 'vibe coding' by emphasizing his experience as a software developer using AI as an assistant tool.
Applied Materials (AMAT) Q3 FY26 earnings results beat revenue, but miss EPS whisper number
Applied Materials reported a record quarterly revenue of $9.12 billion for Q3 FY26, driven by demand for AI technology and semiconductors. While revenue surpassed analyst consensus, the company's earnings per share of $3.50 missed the 'whisper number' expectation, though it still beat Wall Street estimates. The company's stock price saw a decline in after-hours trading following the announcement.
Twitch Chief Product Officer isn't sure if Amazon AI was training on VODs prior to opt-out option
Twitch Chief Product Officer Mike Minton stated that the company is unsure if Amazon AI models were training on Video on Demand content prior to the implementation of an opt-out option. The new policy allows users to opt out of having their past and future content used for AI training. Minton admitted that Twitch did not believe users would voluntarily opt in for AI training, leading to the opt-out approach.
Apple is reportedly turning to publishers for help with Siri AI
Apple is reportedly seeking assistance from publishers to enhance its Siri AI. The company aims to secure access to new content and information to improve Siri's capabilities.
Spotify has roped the indie publisher Kobalt into its AI platform for covers and remixes
Spotify has partnered with the indie publisher Kobalt to integrate AI-powered creative tools into its platform. This forthcoming paid add-on will allow users to generate content, including covers and remixes, using AI.
Twitch finally allows users to opt out of Amazon AI training after years of silently farming streams
Twitch has introduced an opt-out feature allowing users to prevent their stream content, including VODs, clips, and chat, from being used to train Amazon's generative AI models. This change comes after widespread user criticism and follows admissions from Amazon's chief product officer, Mike Minton, that user data had been silently used for AI training for years. While users can now opt out, the default setting previously allowed data harvesting, and individual chat opt-outs are only effective if the streamer also opts out.
Grok 4.6 matches OpenAI’s flagship on benchmarks while charging a fraction of the price
SpaceXAI's Grok 4.6 model has achieved benchmark scores comparable to OpenAI's flagship models, specifically matching GPT-5.6 Sol on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index. It trails only Anthropic's Claude Opus 5 and Claude Fable 5, while significantly undercutting them and OpenAI in pricing for token usage, especially for agentic tasks.
CEO of Space Marine 2 dev says upcoming driving game will get Steam AI tag following backlash, and he would "have been happy" to replace a fired writer with AI "in retrospect"
Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch addressed claims by former writer Stella Sacco that she was replaced by AI on the game Rideshare Stimulator. While Karch denies writers were replaced by AI, he stated the company will add an AI tag to the Steam page for the game and controversially remarked he would have been happy to replace Sacco with AI in retrospect. Sacco maintains her original claims about AI usage and criticizes Karch's response.
'I would frankly have been happy to replace her with AI' - extraordinary public spat between Saber CEO and writer "replaced with ChatGPT" intensifies
A public dispute has intensified between Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch and former employee Stella Sacco regarding the use of AI in game development. Sacco claims she was replaced by ChatGPT on the game Rideshare "Stimulator," while Karch stated he would have been happy to replace her with AI and that she was terminated for other reasons. Saber Interactive has denied replacing writers with AI for the game, though they acknowledge using AI for an experimental mode.
