The Creators of Baldur's Gate 3 Explains Its Use of Machine Learning for Upcoming Divinity

The team behind hit RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin recently shown its upcoming project, generating immense hype within the industry. However, subsequent remarks from the company's lead designer have introduced clarity to the narrative, focusing on the team's approach toward generative artificial intelligence.

A Tool for Ideation, Not Replacement

In a new statement, Larian's director detailed that the team is employing AI technology for specific preliminary purposes. These include developing presentation materials, producing rough artistic references, and creating draft text.

Notably, Vincke stressed that the end material in the game will be authored exclusively by actual writers. "Our team is creating every line ourselves," he said.

Our studio is actively growing our team of writers and are currently forming writing teams.

As concept art is being particularly called out — we currently have over twenty artistic staff and have job openings for additional artists.

Each initiative we do is supplementary and designed to enabling creatives to spend more time on the creative process.

Every machine learning application implemented properly is supplementary to a creative team process, not a substitute for their talent.

Responding to Feedback and Defining the Path

The news of using AI originally provoked concern among portions of the community. In reaction, Vincke provided additional elaboration on social media.

"Our team utilizes these tools to explore references, just like 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 substitute with hand-crafted concept art."

He continued, "Larian brings on talent for their creative vision, not for their willingness to replicate what a machine suggests."

Three Pillars of Practical Application

Vincke had in the past broken down the company's targeted method to AI and ML, grouping its use into primary functions:

• Streamlining Repetitive Work: Areas like refining animations, audio processing, and technical processes like retargeting animations.
• Accelerated Iteration: Using technology to quickly build rough versions of gameplay ideas to validate concepts ahead of full implementation.
• Long-Term Aspirations: Exploring how machine learning could eventually enhance new forms of player agency, particularly in creating player-driven narratives in a complex RPG.

He specifically stated that core creative disciplines — like writing — are not fields where the studio is cutting creative involvement. Conversely, Larian is actively hiring in these exact positions.

"Our studio is not releasing a game with machine-made assets, nor looking at reducing creatives to substitute them with artificial intelligence," Vincke stated definitively.