I don't have a problem with their approach - I think they're handling it better than a lot of companies but they still need to use the lawyer approved verbiage. The only thing I would question is if you read the document it states "... refrain from using AI generative tools to create final D&D products". So use AI to generate a lot of the content and then review, edit and polish the results could be okay. On the other hand I can see why they would want to load an AI with all their previous products and use it for research and answering questions.
D&D General DnDbeyond AMA tomorrow (Tues, Dec 9)
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I don't have a problem with their approach - I think they're handling it better than a lot of companies but they still need to use the lawyer approved verbiage. The only thing I would question is if you read the document it states "... refrain from using AI generative tools to create final D&D products". So use AI to generate a lot of the content and then review, edit and polish the results could be okay. On the other hand I can see why they would want to load an AI with all their previous products and use it for research and answering questions.
No, because that would be the creation of the product.
They do permit outlining and ideation.
They do not permit writing.
As I said, I think WOTC is being more ethical about AI than most companies. But they literally state that AI won't create the "final D&D products". That's a lot of wiggle room and does not state that AI cannot be used at some point along the way or even hypothetically generating 80% of the content. Which is just kind of an emerging reality now. If an AI can answer questions and summarize data from half a century of accumulated lore I don't see an issue with WOTC building AI content with data they own. Heck, if they had an AI built on their own IP I'd consider using it because it would be ethically sourced inputs.
Other than that I really don't want to argue yet again about the emergence of AI.
Ulorian - Agent of Chaos
Legend
Agreed. Using a chatbot or other AI agent to assist with coding and design is pretty much ubiquitous today in software development (source: me, someone who does this for a living
). For a company that writes software to say 'no AI, of any kind, will be used at any point in the creation of this product'... they'd be lying.
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
It also closes off the possibility that there will be tools in the future that they would want to use that the majority of customers would be OK with.Agreed. Using a chatbot or other AI agent to assist with coding and design is pretty much ubiquitous today in software development (source: me, someone who does this for a living
Grammarly is kind of a scam and a glorified spellchecker, but it's not impossible to imagine a better editing tool appearing in the future that would be integrated into whatever software WotC writers would use.
There's no need to set themselves up for "ah HA, I told you they were lying!" when they use software that helps them revise run-on sentences, etc. or -- and this is something they could use -- flags potentially problematic material.
pukunui
Legend
It’s interesting because I reckon the free Eberron adventure that was released on DDB with the delayed Forge of the Artificer book has AI-generated text in it.
I see this accusation against writers and authors who I know create the works themselves constantly.
Why do you think it's AI? Because it was poorly designed? Then Gary Gygax used AI his entire life.
The controversy about using generative AI is when it replaces artists . . . visual artists, writers, designers, etc.Agreed. Using a chatbot or other AI agent to assist with coding and design is pretty much ubiquitous today in software development (source: me, someone who does this for a living
Outside perhaps the programming industry, using AI to help generate code is not ethically controversial, although over reliance on it can lead to poor coding.
If D&D is using generative AI to create visual art or the writing and design of their books, I care about that. If the DDB team is using AI to help code the app, I'm only concerned if it leads to poor performance of the app.
However, I'm not a programmer, so may not be fully versed on the controversies surrounding the use of AI in coding.
In any case, WotC has pledged to not use AI to generate art, visual or writing. I'm pretty sure they haven't promised not to use AI in the coding of DDB.
pukunui
Legend
I explained my reasoning in the thread I linked to.
Make an accusation, then bring the receipts. Otherwise you're just fanning the flames of AI hysteria with more hot air.
