Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks Talks AI Usage in D&D [UPDATED!]

Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks is convinced that the Dungeons & Dragons franchise will support some kind of AI usage in the future. Speaking today at a Goldman Sachs event, Cocks spoke about how AI products could soon support Dungeons & Dragons and other Hasbro brands. Asked about whether AI has the potential to "bend the cost curve" in terms of entertainment development or digital gaming, and how it's being used in the toy and content industries, Cocks said the following:

"Inside of development, we've already been using AI. It's mostly machine-learning-based AI or proprietary AI as opposed to a ChatGPT approach. We will deploy it significantly and liberally internally as both a knowledge worker aid and as a development aid. I'm probably more excited though about the playful elements of AI. If you look at a typical D&D player....I play with probably 30 or 40 people regularly. There's not a single person who doesn't use AI somehow for either campaign development or character development or story ideas. That's a clear signal that we need to be embracing it. We need to do it carefully, we need to do it responsibly, we need to make sure we pay creators for their work, and we need to make sure we're clear when something is AI-generated. But the themes around using AI to enable user-generated content, using AI to streamline new player introduction, using AI for emergent storytelling, I think you're going to see that not just our hardcore brands like D&D but also multiple of our brands."

Wizards of the Coast representatives has repeatedly said that Dungeons & Dragons is a game made by people for people, as multiple AI controversies has surrounded the brand and its parent company. Wizards updated its freelance contracts to explicitly prohibit use of AI and has pulled down AI-generated artwork that was submitted for Bigby's Presents: Glory of the Giants in 2023 after they learned it was made using AI tools.

A FAQ related to AI specifically notes that "Hasbro has a vast portfolio of 1900+ brands of which Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons are two – two very important, cherished brands. Each brand is going to approach its products differently. What is in the best interest of Trivial Pursuit is likely quite different than that of Magic: The Gathering or Dungeons & Dragons." This statement acknowledges that Hasbro may use AI for other brands, while also stating that Wizards is trying to keep AI-generated artwork away from the game. However, while Wizards seems to want to keep AI away from D&D and Magic, their parent company's CEO seems to think that AI and D&D aren't naturally opposed.

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UPDATE -- Greg Tito, who was WotC's communications director until recently, commented on BlueSky: "I'm deeply mistrustful of AI and don't want people using it anywhere near my D&D campaigns."

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

You guys are convincing me that WotC is going to buy Dungeon Alchemist and incorporate it into Sigil* in the future.

* Not that Sigil. The other Sigil. It's weird that they've got two Sigils, isn't it?

 

[Von Ether]

People have different skills. Some people can be good at visualizing a place in their mind but still be poor at describing it on the fly. Having a description prepared in advance, either one you write yourself or from a product, can be a good way to ensure that you convey the atmosphere of the place the way you want to and don't forget to mention any important details.

Some DMs may find it easier to create atmospheric descriptions in writing than freestyling or trying to remember all the salient details that they need to share.

I'd say people have different skill levels.

At least that's what d100 game engines would tell us.

We all have our weak spots but that's what practice is for. Forgetting a salient detail is not a crime, simply admit you made a goof, provide the detail, and move on.

Confidence is key to GMing. Practicing the craft and finding out making mistakes is okay is best way to get that confidence.

Perfect example:

Some DMs may find it easier to create atmospheric descriptions in writing than freestyling

If the AI is creating the copy, then the GM is NOT writing it and that's may create more insecurity for a GM, not less. It may lead to the AI being more of a crutch than a tool.

 

[Argyle King]

Oh come on man . . . of all the things to doubt in Cock's statements.

Okay, so YOU don't regularly play with that many people. So?

Who knows how often he games and how many folks are in each group. Is it any of our business? If he games twice a week, but with alternating groups . . . or games with folks at WotC during the work week . . . or is involved in Adventurers League games . . . or online games . . .

Somebody with 30-40 D&D gamers in their regular social circle and gaming groups is high, but it is not unreasonable.

Sheesh.

Sure, and I've addressed multiple groups and Adventurer's League.

Depends upon what is meant by "regularly."

30-40 people regularly gathering together to play with Cocks doesn't sound like the usual D&D experience.

 

[the Jester]

That's one damn good song.

Not knowing the software etc., is the entire song AI, or just the words, or ???

The entire thing, with some guidance from the dm.

 

[Azzy]

You guys are convincing me that WotC is going to buy Dungeon Alchemist and incorporate it into Sigil* in the future.

* Not that Sigil. The other Sigil. It's weird that they've got two Sigils, isn't it?

At least in this case, Sigil is just the project name and not necessarily what the VTT will be called when it releases.

 

[TiQuinn]

Why does a GM need boxed text? Boxed text is a short hand device for the adventure designer to suggest how a GM paints a visual image or interaction. For homebrew, the DM already knows what the scene is going to be like.

As for a lot of the stuff AI is being used for, it makes me wonder how long before a lot of OSR writers lose their biggest source of income, providing random tables of ... everything.

As a DM, sometimes box text is a blessing, rather than me having to describe a room based on keywords in a narrow space on a page.

 

[Azzy]

I'd say people have different skill levels.

It we want to take this silly analogy forward... Some people do not get certain skills due to their Class, Occupation, or what ever. Can we not pretend that everyone is equally abled.

We all have our weak spots but that's what practice is for. Forgetting a salient detail is not a crime, simply admit you made a goof, provide the detail, and move on.

Confidence is key to GMing. Practicing the craft and finding out making mistakes is okay is best way to get that confidence.

Why are using the word "you"?

If the AI is creating the copy, then the GM is NOT writing it and that's may create more insecurity for a GM, not less. It may lead to the AI being more of a crutch than a tool.

Well, when I jumped into this conversation, you were questioning why a DM may use boxed text even for their homebrew adventures—and I gave you an answer to that question. Whether you accept that answer is all you. Also, I am not interested in, nor am I taking part in the AI aspects of the conversation.

 

[Oofta]

Sure, and I've addressed multiple groups and Adventurer's League.

Depends upon what is meant by "regularly."

30-40 people regularly gathering together to play with Cocks doesn't sound like the usual D&D experience.

I explained how it worked for me to game with that many people or close to it. That may not match your experience, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

 

[TiQuinn]

Sure, and I've addressed multiple groups and Adventurer's League.

Depends upon what is meant by "regularly."

30-40 people regularly gathering together to play with Cocks doesn't sound like the usual D&D experience.

Exactly. Big difference between Joe Blow DM and Chris “I’m the CEO of Hasbro being paid $15 million dollars a year” Cocks.

In no way are these the same experience.

 

[Argyle King]

I explained how it worked for me to game with that many people or close to it. That may not match your experience, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

Like I said, how do you define "regularly"?