The Divinity Developer Clarifies Its Application of AI Tools for Next Divinity

The studio behind acclaimed role-playing games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently unveiled its upcoming project, generating a wave of hype within the player base. However, subsequent statements from the studio's co-founder have introduced a new dimension to the conversation, addressing the studio's philosophy toward AI tools.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a recent clarification, the studio's founder explained that the company is utilizing generative AI for certain preliminary tasks. These include enhancing presentation materials, creating early-stage artistic references, and creating draft dialogue.

Crucially, Vincke emphasized that the final assets in the game will be authored solely by actual artists. "Our team is writing everything in-house," he said.

Larian is continuously expanding our roster of concept artists and are actively putting together narrative groups.

As this area is being explicitly referenced — we right now have twenty-three visual developers and have positions available for further artists.

All our efforts we do is incremental and focused on enabling creatives to spend more time on making content.

Every AI system applied correctly is a boost to a creative team workflow, not a replacement for their talent.

Addressing Concerns and Clarifying the Vision

The admission of AI usage initially generated concern among some the fanbase. In reply, Vincke issued further elaboration on public forums.

"We use AI tools to gather inspiration, just like we use search engines and physical media," he stated. "In the initial ideation stages we use it as a basic framework for composition which we then substitute with original illustrations."

He added, "Our studio recruits artists for their unique talent, not for their capacity to execute what a machine suggests."

Focused Uses for Machine Learning

Vincke had in the past detailed the team's practical approach to this technology, categorizing its use into key areas:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: Areas like motion capture cleaning, audio processing, and Larian-specific work like retargeting animations.
• Accelerated Iteration: Using technology to quickly build basic mock-ups of gameplay ideas to validate concepts prior to complete production.
• Experimental Frontiers: Researching how AI could one day create new forms of reactivity, specifically in creating unforeseen permutations in a detailed game universe.

He explicitly stated that key artistic disciplines — like visual art — are are in no way departments where the team is reducing artistic talent. In fact, Larian is recruiting more in these very roles.

"We are not releasing a game with any AI components, and we are certainly not considering reducing staff to swap them out with artificial intelligence," Vincke concluded.