At the recent GamesBeat Summit, one of the key topics that generated excitement was the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) within the gaming industry. Will Wright, a renowned game developer, delivered a talk on the future of AI in game development, sparking discussions on the subject. Another notable speaker, Kim Kunes, Microsoft’s VP of Gaming Trust & Safety, engaged in a fireside chat about the use of AI in ensuring trust and safety in gaming.
According to Kunes, while AI can play a significant role in mitigating potential harm to human moderators, it will never replace humans in protecting others. Human interaction is complex, and player safety requires nuanced approaches. Xbox, for instance, has implemented various safety features, including safety standards and proactive and reactive moderation tools. Notably, Xbox’s transparency report highlights the integration of AI-driven features such as Image Pattern Matching and Auto Labelling. These features utilize previously labeled toxic content to identify patterns and detect toxic content more effectively.
During the discussion, Kunes addressed the question of how AI can work alongside humans. He emphasized that AI can assist and support human moderators, freeing them from mundane tasks and enabling them to focus on more critical issues. By automating repetitive tasks related to toxic content identification, AI allows human moderators to leverage their expertise in improving overall gaming environments. This symbiotic relationship between AI and humans not only enhances efficiency but also benefits the mental well-being of moderators who would otherwise be exposed to harmful content repeatedly.
However, Kunes made it clear that AI will never replace humans entirely in the realm of trust and safety. Safety measures require constant monitoring and adaptation, making human expertise indispensable. Kunes underscored the importance of human moderators’ expertise in maintaining a safe gaming environment. Safety cannot be achieved by simply setting up AI systems and leaving them unattended for extended periods. Ongoing human involvement is crucial for effective moderation and ensuring the well-being of gamers.
In conclusion, the discussions at GamesBeat Summit shed light on the growing role of AI in game development and player safety. While AI can augment human efforts and alleviate the burden of repetitive tasks, it will always be necessary to have human expertise at the core of safety measures. The future of AI in gaming lies in its ability to collaborate with humans, empowering them to focus on more complex challenges and create enjoyable and secure gaming experiences for all.
