Songyee Yoon: Transforming gaming using responsible AI
Jan 25, 2024
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Songyee Yoon, Head of one major video game developer, discusses responsible AI in gaming and the importance of fostering community. They explore biases in AI systems, the appeal of games, and the need for responsible development. Discusses the impact of MMORPG games on community building.
Gaming communities foster lasting connections and friendships, shaping the player experience and contributing to game longevity.
Responsible AI development is crucial in the gaming industry to address biases, ensure fair representation, and mitigate the impact of limited access to broadband on AI algorithms.
Deep dives
The Power of Gaming Communities
Gaming communities have a profound impact on players, creating connections and friendships that can last for years. These communities have been instrumental in the growth and longevity of games, with players continuing to play for a decade or more due to the relationships formed within the gaming world. The community aspect is an integral part of gameplay, providing a safe and interactive environment for players to learn, foster creativity, and develop sensory skills. Gaming communities have even held in-game weddings, showcasing the depth of the connections formed through gaming.
The Role of AI in Gaming Industry
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the gaming industry, with its potential to automate game creation and expand the range of characters and imagery within games. AI-driven technologies are highly valued by gamers who have high expectations from developers. However, there are ethical concerns surrounding generative AI, with 84% of game developers expressing worries about its usage. Responsible AI development is crucial, ensuring that biases are minimized and developers have a mindful approach to creating fair and representative gaming experiences.
The Importance of Responsible AI and Bias Awareness
Song Yiyun, president and chief strategic officer at NCSoft, a major video game developer, emphasizes the need for responsible AI development and bias awareness in the gaming industry. She points out that the perspective of developers greatly influences the technology and software they create. She advocates for a responsible mindset among developers to ensure fair representation and to prevent biases from being embedded in the algorithms. Additionally, she highlights the fact that limited access to broadband contributes to representation mismatch in AI algorithms and urges vigilance in recognizing and mitigating biases in AI systems.
There are more than 3 billion video gamers worldwide. Many come--and stay--for the community. Today: AI is changing gaming for these communities, and the head of one major video game developer says we need to advance gaming for users through responsible AI. Niala talks with Songyee Yoon of NCSoft, from the Axios House at the World Economic Forum, and gets context from Axios' global technology correspondent Ryan Heath.
Plus: Stephen Totilo, author of the Game File newsletter, with a reality check on the human vs. AI touch in gaming today.
Guests: Songyee Yoon, president and chief strategic officer of South Korean-based video game developer NCSoft; Ryan Heath, Axios global technology correspondent and co-author of Axios AI+; Stephen Totilo, author and founder of Game File and former gaming reporter at Axios.
Credits: 1 big thing is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, and Jay Cowit. Music is composed by Alex Sugiura. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can send questions, comments and story ideas as a text or voice memo to Niala at 202-918-4893.