- Primary Subject: Generative AI vs. Functional AI in Gaming [Nvidia DLSS 5 / General Tech]
- Key Update: Nvidia’s DLSS 5 is "artistic slop" that erases creative signatures, advocating instead for functional AI systems like Alien: Isolation and Tekken 8.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: January 20, 2026
- Quick Answer: Generative AI threatens artistic integrity by homogenizing visuals, whereas functional AI enhances gameplay
Generative AI is a highly controversial topic that’s been debated for years. It started with deepfakes of art that progressed into plagiarism, and now it’s come knocking on the door of the gaming industry.
I’m not here to give you a vague talking piece that lets you decide if Generative AI is good or not; I’m here to tell you that it is downright evil and erases what makes gaming good. I’m a firm believer that AI has a very significant place in the gaming industry, but I also remember a time when innovative AI was a good thing.
And I hope to remind you of that.
I am not going to beat around the bush because you probably know where I’m coming from already. The presentation of Nvidia’s “new” and “innovative” DLSS5 processing software left my jaw on the floor, not because of how amazing it was, but for how appallingly tone-deaf it was. The tech demo shows a vision of video games where artistic expression and dynamic lighting are replaced by what I could describe as PS4 textures plastered onto 3D models. I could go on forever about how this Generative AI filter fools you into thinking it’s beautiful, but what I’m more worried about is the implications of this technology on games moving forward.
Generative AI erases the artistic expression of video games, taking what would be unique artistic signatures and turning them into homogenous AI slop. I firmly believe that AI should be used as a tool to supplement creativity, not as a crutch that erases that creativity. Then again, using Generative AI as a crutch could also lead to dependency that hinders creative direction, and that’s another can of worms that I could spend days dooming about. But I won’t, because I know that AI could still have a place in the industry. In fact, it’s always had a place in this industry, just not in the way defined by today.
To understand what I mean, we only have to go as far back as 2014 with the release of the hit horror game Alien: Isolation. In this game, you’re hunted down by an Xenomorph alien, a situation that brings you to the edge of your seat every time. Of course, I’ve never played because I’m too much of a coward who jumps at the slightest bump in the dark, but I’ve watched endless hours of gameplay and commentary. One of the things that’s been highly praised about the game is its smart AI, which tracks the player’s movements and tendencies, making sure the Xenomorph learns about your habits and uses them against you.
Another earlier example of AI in video games is Left 4 Dead 2’s AI director. An AI that once again learns from player tendencies and adjusts the playthrough accordingly. If the game feels like your run is a cake walk, then maybe the AI director could throw a few hordes your way to make things feel a bit more exciting each playthrough.
On a more recent note, Tekken 8 also came with a new AI system that was overshadowed by the game’s recent controversial changes. The Super Ghost Battles in Tekken 8 made it so that an AI was constantly recording your tendencies, including preferred combo routes, preferred punishes, and even the pacing of your movement. This AI then copied all of these tendencies to produce the closest thing you could get to a specific player. This feature enabled us to shadowbox and train against high-profile players, allowing us to learn something new.
That is what AI should mean for gaming.
There’s an endless list of provocative AI systems in video games that Generative AI’s bad reputation has overshadowed, and my greatest hope is that the game industry keeps this in mind moving forward.
But of course, we have to face the reality that we’re in today. We’ve opened the Pandora’s box of Generative AI and, as much as I hope it goes away, it’s starting to feel like it’s stubbornly here for good. With that said, I’m hopeful that the larger part of the gaming industry acknowledges that Generative AI isn’t the future and is just being shoved down our throats by the greedy corporate machine. Even Capcom, one of the biggest developers in the industry, has spoken out that they wholly disagree with their games being used in the tech demo.
I hope for a future that continues to develop AI technology, but not Generative AI. I want a future wherein AI helps create adaptive systems for me to enjoy games an infinite number of times! Games like Alien: Isolation and even the old F.E.A.R. games, where AI was constantly outsmarting you if you kept using the same techniques. This is where AI shines, and that is the place where video games should be.
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