Why CD Projekt Opted Out of Using Generative AI for Witcher 4

CD Projekt, the renowned gaming company from Poland, has made it clear that they won’t be incorporating generative AI technology into the creation of The Witcher 4. During a discussion with investors, joint CEO Michał Nowakowski explained their reasoning, primarily pointing to issues related to intellectual property. The challenge with generative AI lies in its dependency on a multitude of existing materials—some of which are copyrighted, some contributed with permission, and some without. This makes it complicated to claim originality for any generated content.

Nowakowski elaborated by saying, “Last year, we initiated a team dedicated to exploring AI possibilities for future projects, including the development of bespoke AI models. We’re currently working on several research initiatives, but they don’t primarily focus on generative AI. This type of AI presents significant challenges, particularly in terms of legal aspects and intellectual property rights. So, at this point, we’re not planning to integrate generative AI into The Witcher 4 or any of our upcoming titles.”

Back in January 2024, CD Projekt acknowledged that AI might serve useful roles in certain areas of game development, but for now, they’re steering clear of generative AI for their major projects.