WotC Hasbro CEO optimistic about AI in D&D and MTG’s future

[Yaarel]

Quite possibly, if it leads to advancements in AI that help us crack the fusion problem. The solution to humanity's current problems doesn't rest with using less energy, it lies in using much, much more. And again if not for the doomsaying about nuclear fission power last century, we'd be in a much better place today.

I dont understand why people dont get virtually infinite energy from the lava below ground.

 

[eyeheartawk]

I dont understand why people dont get virtually infinite energy from the lava below ground.

Easy.

Crab people.

 

[ilgatto]

(...) It's humans that we have to worry about.

That argument was made about both computers and the internet. (...)

I'd have more sympathy if I knew how you jump from "AI may be used as a DM aid" to end of times apocalypse. (...)

Fortunately, not all is lost.

 

[Oofta]

Why does every thread about the practical applications of a technology that is definitely coming anyway always get drowned in doomsaying and proselytizing. Some of us would actually like to discuss this stuff.

My thoughts exactly. I think applications of how AI could boost the hobby are interesting. Could we have a DM assistant? What possibilities are there? Would it just take a look at our general ideas and restructure them? We have that now, I've toyed with some that create NPC descriptions. They don't add a lot of value yet, but there's possibilities there. Some people already use AI art to create portraits of PCs and NPCs or pictures of a specific locale.

But what's next, what would we want? There was a demo for a video game where you talk to the bartender and you can have an actual conversation with them, it's not just pre-done dialog. Could we create an AI NPC and have conversations with it? Could it generate a fleshed out NPC on the fly when the PCs decide they really need to talk to the local blacksmith and I have to make it up on the spot? Where does it end? Could we have an AI good enough to be a DM?

Personally? I think we could see things like an AI that creates entire populated cities for us if we want. Perhaps give DMs thought starters on campaign direction and thoughts. But it won't replace a DM that runs more of a sandbox style campaign that's truly open, it will have to have some sort of outline adventure and restrictions. It may be able to fill in the blanks, but be truly creative for something more than a dungeon crawl? I suspect that would require a true general AI that understands what it's creating. That could be decades away if it ever happens.

But it just depends on who you ask. Some people think a true general AI is right around the corner others think it's 50 years away, if ever.

 

[Oofta]

Fortunately, not all is lost.

There's a lot of doomsayers out there, fearmongering sells. Let's just say that I'm skeptical that AI is going to be more of a threat to humanity than other humans already are.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I dont understand why people dont get virtually infinite energy from the lava below ground.

Geothermal energy has the issue of machinery being in contact with volcanic vents.

You know how D&D lava and magma deals fire damage? Well that should actually include acid damage, as magma produces corrosive gas as well, meaning it destroys geothermal equipment with--to use the scientific term -- lickety speed.

 

[Faith Elisabeth Lilley]

Is "People are considered resources, a dollar amount on a spreadsheet" really any different from any other industry? I've worked for companies large and small in IT writing the software that the company could not function without. The products that make the company competitive, that keeps them in business. Without us, there would be nothing. Yet in virtually every case, IT was considered an expense that was to be kept to a minimum. All of us software developers, database administrators, quality assurance? We were just numbers on a spreadsheet and the lower the numbers the better.

It can be frustrating, but it's just the reality everywhere. Managers frequently add minimal real value, sales people make commissions off selling projects that have unrealistic timelines and then go on to sell more and make big bonuses while IT goes on death marches to implement it, some manager reads an article and next thing you know we're supposed to integrate the new "silver bullet" technology that they don't understand.

There are exceptions to every rule, but practically all management in every company thinks of the people actually doing the work that pays there salaries as an expense to be minimized. At best the people doing the work are an expense they try to get the best ROI possible. WOTC is no different.

Agreed that it's the same across most industries - it's the model of capitalism - it's how it works. Decisions are made based on financial gains, rather than impact on people. People are considered when harming them would cause an impact on financial gain.

 

[Yaarel]

Geothermal energy has the issue of machinery being in contact with volcanic vents.

You know how D&D lava and magma deals fire damage? Well that should actually include acid damage, as magma produces corrosive gas as well, meaning it destroys geothermal equipment with--to use the scientific term -- lickety speed.

Yes, obviously. But they dont need the equipment to be in the lava. Just near enough to benefit from the heat energy. Dealing with corrosion? Theres ways to deal with that. Such as with hi tech ceramics, for example.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Yes, obviously. But they dont need the equipment to be in the lava. Just near enough to benefit from the heat energy. Dealing with corrosion? Theres ways to deal with that. Such as with hi tech ceramics, for example.

It's not the lava, it's the gas. And 'hi tech ceramics' are currently difficult and expensive to create.

Much like actual AI, we're talking about a best case scenario for a tech that isn't actually here yet.

That's what a lot of people don't get: science isn't like it looks like in media. There's rarely a eureka moment that solves everything and instantly revolutionizes everything. There's iteration, there's trial and error, there's waiting for things like materials science to catch up to your theories, and these days, there's being shelved forever by a patent trolling company that doesn't think your Thing What Will Improve The World won't be profitable fast enough or can be explained to the shareholders.

 

[Yaarel]

It's not the lava, it's the gas. And 'hi tech ceramics' are currently difficult and expensive to create.

Much like actual AI, we're talking about a best case scenario for a tech that isn't actually here yet.

That's what a lot of people don't get: science isn't like it looks like in media. There's rarely a eureka moment that solves everything and instantly revolutionizes everything. There's iteration, there's trial and error, there's waiting for things like materials science to catch up to your theories, and these days, there's being shelved forever by a patent trolling company that doesn't think your Thing What Will Improve The World won't be profitable fast enough or can be explained to the shareholders.

The idea is to dig down to near enough to the heat of the lava. Not situate in a gaseous vent.

Corrosion and gases are still an issue.

The surprise is, nations dont seem to be trying to get deep geothermic energy. We are literally floating on a pool of virtually infinite energy.