Former Dragon Age writer David Gaider says generative AI isn’t ready for game development

David Gaider, the former lead narrative designer for BioWare’s Dragon Age series and co‑founder of Summerfall Studios, told GamesRadar+ that generative AI tools are being pushed into game development before they are fit for purpose. He described the technology as “not ready for prime time” and warned that executives are eager to adopt AI as a solution despite its inability to handle the iterative creative process that underpins game production.

Gaider argued that current AI often creates more work than it saves, forcing developers to spend additional time cleaning up low‑quality output. He also voiced legal and ethical concerns, noting that many AI models are trained on copyrighted material without permission, which could expose studios to future disputes. Importantly, he cautioned that over‑reliance on AI threatens the training of junior developers, calling the practice a “virulent plague” that deprives newcomers of essential entry‑level tasks that build core skills.

While acknowledging that AI may eventually assist with repetitive tasks, Gaider maintained that premature, top‑down adoption risks delivering mediocre games and undermining the creative growth of the industry.