The Divinity Developer Clarifies Its Implementation of Machine Learning for New Project

The team behind acclaimed titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin has recently shown its upcoming project, creating significant anticipation within the player base. However, recent statements from the studio's figurehead have added a new dimension to the discussion, focusing on the developer's stance toward machine learning.

Augmenting Workflows, Not Cutting Jobs

In a new statement, the studio's founder detailed that the company is using machine learning for certain preliminary purposes. These include developing presentation materials, creating early-stage concept art, and creating placeholder text.

Crucially, Vincke made clear that the final assets in the game will be authored exclusively by real artists. "Larian is developing everything manually," he stated.

Larian is continuously expanding our roster of storytellers and are busily putting together writing teams.

As this area is being particularly called out — we right now have twenty-three artistic staff and have positions available for additional artists.

Everything we do is supplementary and designed to enabling creatives to spend greater focus on actual creation.

Every ML tool applied correctly is supplementary to a creative team process, not a replacement for their skill.

Addressing Concerns and Clarifying the Vision

The revelation of using AI at first provoked unease among a segment of the player base. In response, Vincke offered further clarification on online platforms.

"We use these tools to gather inspiration, similar to we use the internet and reference books," he wrote. "During the very early brainstorming phase we use it as a rough outline for layout which we then replace with original illustrations."

He continued, "Larian brings on artists for their inherent skill, not for their ability to execute what a AI generates."

Focused Uses for Machine Learning

Vincke had previously detailed the studio's practical method to AI and ML, grouping its use into three main pillars:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: Areas like polishing mocap data, dialogue cleanup, and technical processes like adjusting assets for various species.
• Fast-Tracked Experimentation: Using technology to quickly build basic models of gameplay ideas to experiment with concepts before full production.
• Long-Term Aspirations: Exploring how machine learning could in the future create innovative player agency, particularly in managing dynamic reactions in a vast role-playing world.

He explicitly stated that key artistic disciplines — including writing — are are in no way fields where the studio is replacing artistic input. In fact, Larian is recruiting more in these exact roles.

"We are not launching a game with AI-generated content, nor planning on cutting staff to replace them with artificial intelligence," Vincke stated definitively.