AI increasingly inserted into the world of work, to the detriment of humans. There are worrying numbers in the video game sector with more than 10,000 people who have lost their jobs in 2023. A website regarding the technology field has collected statements that confirm the fact that video game producers are interested in this tool, preferring it to employees. Among the big names involved in the world of video games are Activision, Microsoft and EA.
Employee TestimonialsAI increasingly widespread and over 10,000 layoffs
Employee Testimonials
Wired US, via email, collected various testimonies from employees of video game production companies who said they were worried if not shocked by the decisions taken by their employers, increasingly fascinated by AI to the point of making drastic decisions up to staff cuts.
A Blizzard Entertainment employee close to Activision said, “There’s a lot of concern for artists in general about AI.” That person is Molly Warner, who expressed concern after receiving multiple emails from her then-CEO Michael Vance about the tool’s merits. Another Activision employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “A lot of 2D artists have lost their jobs, and the concept artists that are left have been forced to integrate AI into their work.”
EA cut its workforce by 5% in February, with EA CEO Andrew Wilson saying a few months later: “The fear of job losses is something we talk about a lot. Every revolution has led to a loss in the short term, and then a significant increase in job opportunities in the long term. Our hope is that AI will lead to the same opportunities.”
Andrew Willson, CEO of EA
AI increasingly widespread and over 10,000 layoffs
In 2023, according to the numbers, there will be about 10,500 people laid off due to the spread of artificial intelligence and a revenue of almost 200,000 dollars from these lost jobs. This year’s numbers are also very worrying and exceed those of last year with 11 thousand people who have lost their jobs within the studios. Generative AI systems are widespread in practically almost all sectors and Microsoft closed Tango Gameworks and Alpha Dog Games in May.
Additionally, a survey conducted by Game Developers Conference reported that 49% of respondents said their workplace uses such a machine, and four out of five participants expressed concern about the ethical consequences it could bring.
