Artificial Intelligence
Ongoing coverage on Artificial Intelligence.
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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.
Space Marine 2 Maker Saber Interactive Confirms It Will an Add AI Label to Rideshare Stimulator on Steam Following Controversy
Saber Interactive, the publisher of Rideshare Stimulator, has confirmed that an AI label will be added to the game's Steam page. This decision follows public criticism regarding the use of artificial intelligence in the game's development.
Twitch are scraping streams for AI training by default, and even their own execs don’t know what user data may have been swept up
Twitch has admitted to using streamed content for Amazon's AI training by default, requiring users to manually opt-out. This policy has caused outrage among streamers, with executives like Mike Minton conceding uncertainty about what user data may have been included in the scraping. The move also raises concerns about copyright infringement and potential conflicts with game publishers and voice actors.
Meta is giving away 15,000 AI glasses to blind and visually impaired people in Ireland
Meta is donating 15,000 pairs of its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, equipped with AI capabilities, to a charity in Ireland that supports individuals who are blind or visually impaired. This initiative aims to provide assistive technology to those in need.
Open Robotics Lab goes live as BitRobot starts taking Access ID applications
BitRobot has launched its Open Robotics Lab and is now accepting applications for Access IDs, which serve as credentials for participation. Holders can earn Bolts and Badges through robotics work, subnet campaigns, and referrals, with plans for future token emissions and NFT-based robot identifiers. The lab aims to gamify robotics data collection and accelerate embodied AI research.
EA Is Now Privately Owned After a Record $55 Billion Buyout What It Means for Players | Gamedoper
Electronic Arts has been acquired for $55 billion by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, making it the largest all-cash leveraged buyout in history. This move takes EA private, removing public shareholder oversight and potentially allowing for longer-term investments, with a focus on AI in game development highlighted by Silver Lake. While EA's current game pipeline remains unaffected, the long-term impact on monetization and game development strategies under the new ownership is yet to be seen.
Saber Interactive CEO responds with bizarre statement to AI use in Rideshare 'Stimulator'
Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch issued a controversial statement regarding allegations that the company replaced a writer with AI on the game Rideshare Stimulator. Karch denied speaking with the accuser, Stella Sacco, and stated he would have been happy to replace her with AI, calling her 'programmed to be honest.' Sacco refuted his claims, stating the CEO's statement was pathetic and would damage Saber Interactive's reputation.
Games Inbox: When will The Elder Scrolls 6: Sentinel be released?
Readers discuss the potential release window for The Elder Scrolls 6, with speculation pointing towards 2028 and a possible Hammerfell setting. Other topics include the design of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the use of AI in game development, and the potential for future Nintendo handhelds.
