Dragon Age co-creator calls AI a “deadly plague” that makes developers lazy

Automation creates a bleak outlook for the gaming industry, contrary to the visions once held at BioWare.

David Gaider, a former BioWare writer and a creator of the Dragon Age series, opposes the widespread use of generative artificial intelligence in game development. He believes these technologies create legal and ethical hurdles while preventing junior staff from learning their craft.

In a recent interview, Gaider—who worked on Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age II, and Dragon Age: Inquisition before leaving in 2016—pointed out that many current AI models train on copyrighted material. He warned that this practice invites significant legal consequences, regardless of the moral implications.

Gaider identifies the loss of training opportunities for junior developers as the most pressing problem. Routine tasks traditionally assigned to entry-level employees allowed them to gain essential hands-on experience. By automating these tasks, the industry removes the ladder for new talent to grow.

He noted that studios now use generative AI for core creative tasks, leaving humans to fix the errors. In his experience, editing low-quality output often takes longer than creating work from scratch, and the result remains mediocre.

The critique extends to programming. Gaider views the growing trend of vibe coding—where a developer describes a result in plain language and AI writes the code—as a mistake. He argues that AI struggles with iteration and maintenance, making it difficult to implement small, consistent changes or debug complex systems. He also doubts the value of AI-generated prototypes, noting that they fail to teach teams how the final product actually functions.

The writer considers the use of AI for concept art and game systems equally flawed. These assets often appear soulless or contain errors that artists and developers cannot easily repair or support.

Gaider called for the industry to exercise extreme caution until clear regulations exist and companies can guarantee that models use only legally obtained data. He criticized executives who view cheap automation as a replacement for skilled labor, urging them to recognize that artificial intelligence cannot substitute for human expertise.