(Image credit: Naughty Dog)
Troy Baker, known for his roles in The Last of Us and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, isn’t fretting over the rise of generative AI in content creation. Instead, he believes that as AI churns out more “content,” it only serves to highlight the true artistry of human-made work even more. In a chat with The Game Business, Baker shared his thoughts on the potential implications of generative AI for video games and the talents who bring them to life. He stated, “AI can create content, but it cannot create art. And the reason why is because that invariably requires the human experience.” With this in mind, he doesn’t feel the urgency to panic about AI possibly taking over artistic roles. “People go, ‘Look what AI can do.’ It’s like, ‘Yeah, okay. I see what it’s capable of doing. It doesn’t matter,’” he reflects. “And we don’t need to diminish it, we don’t need to denigrate it, we don’t need to demonize it. We need to just go, ‘Okay, it’s there.’ But it still doesn’t remove the choice for me as a performer, as a producer, to go, ‘But I choose to do this.’”
The conversation surrounding generative AI continues to spark debates, especially since a variety of views have emerged. For instance, some in the industry seem more concerned, with The Last of Us co-creator emphasizing the sentiment that “we don’t need AI” in their creative processes. Others, like a former Square Enix executive, note that many studios are already incorporating some form of AI to assist in their work, reflecting a growing acceptance in specific corners of the industry.
Baker points out that fears about AI are likely rooted in the overwhelming amount of content it can produce: “There is no doubt that AI can make content way better than humans, by far. It can crank it out no problem.” This content saturation, he believes, will push creators and audiences alike to seek out more authentic experiences. “I want to have this first-hand experience as opposed to the gruel that gets distilled to me through a black mirror,” he notes, suggesting that this shift might pave the way for a creative revolution.
Having established himself as a leading voice in gaming, Baker’s perspective contrasts with others in the industry who hold extreme views about AI. There’s a noticeable divide—artists and creators tend to be more cautious about the technology, while many executives seem inclined to embrace it. That said, the conversation isn’t black and white, and as AI technology advances, it continues to impact games and their developers profoundly.
Meanwhile, Bruce Straley, co-director of The Last of Us and now at the helm of a new studio working on Coven of the Chicken Foot, reaffirmed his stance last December by declaring, “I won’t be using AI even if its output becomes convincing and ‘compelling’ precisely because I don’t think prompting is art.” He highlighted a concern that we may be veering away from essential human creativity: “I don’t know who’s asking for it, I don’t know who’s pushing for it, but I don’t think it’s the way as a human species we need to be evolving.”
For the creators behind Baby Steps, which is already being touted as one of 2025’s most intriguing titles, the idea of ceding creativity to AI feels unacceptable. They reinforce the notion that “the player is in communion with a human designer,” a sentiment that encapsulates the heartfelt connection many strive for in gaming.