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Gaming industry puts generative AI to the test

Also: Gen Z is entering the workforce with generative AI skills

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AI KATANA
June 29, 2023

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In recent AI developments, gaming giants Unity Software and NetEase are implementing AI in game development and design, aiming for cost-efficiency and improved player experiences, while GitHub CEO, Thomas Dohmke, has projected that AI could increase global GDP by over $1 trillion by 2030. Moreover, Generation Z is entering the workforce with notable generative AI skills, and the Vatican, in collaboration with Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, has released a comprehensive AI ethics handbook. In addition, Unity has launched two new AI tools, Muse and Sentis, designed to revolutionize the creative process in game design. On the investment front, AI startup Typeface achieved a $1 billion valuation following a Salesforce-led funding round, and Celestial AI has raised $100M in Series B funding for its light-based data transmission technology.

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  • 🎮 Gaming industry puts generative AI to the test

  • 🤑 GitHub CEO: AI could add more than $1 trillion to global GDP by 2030

  • 👩🏻‍🎤 Gen Z is entering the workforce with generative AI skills

  • ✝️ The Vatican Releases Its Own AI Ethics Handbook

Gaming giants Unity Software and NetEase are pushing the boundaries of AI implementation in video game development and design, with the promise of cost-saving measures and enhanced player experiences. Unity's new AI technology simplifies the creation of three-dimensional assets and animations, while enabling other AI companies to make their apps compatible with Unity’s toolkit. Unity's product release sparked a 15% rise in their share price. NetEase, on the other hand, is set to test their AI capabilities with Justice Mobile, featuring AI-powered characters trained on Song dynasty literature, which has already attracted over 40 million sign-ups. Though AI integration is still in early stages for many companies, venture investors predict substantial cost savings in the gaming industry, and Unity’s CEO suggests this technology could lead to the emergence of billion-dollar franchises.

GitHub CEO, Thomas Dohmke, suggests that AI could potentially boost the global GDP by over $1 trillion within the next seven years, perhaps even underestimating the productivity gains. He compares this to the personal computer revolution, highlighting that the widespread availability of data and computing power is enabling significant productivity jumps through AI and neural networks. He emphasizes that AI's efficiencies extend beyond developers to a wide range of professions, improving productivity by aiding in tasks and allowing individuals to maintain their creative headspace. Furthermore, Dohmke states that companies across various sectors, including banks, automakers, pharmacies, and insurance companies, are essentially software companies now and that AI will help manage their complex, large-scale systems more efficiently, contributing to the touted GDP boost.

Generation Z, or Zoomers, are entering the workforce with notable proficiency in generative AI skills, having embraced and explored AI technologies during their educational years. They use AI for various tasks, including editing and generating content, problem-solving, and financial management, contributing to a growing reliance on AI in workplace tools. Despite concerns over AI's potential harms, including job displacement and misinformation, many Gen Z members are optimistic about the technology's future role. Universities are increasingly integrating AI into their curriculum, further reinforcing this trend. However, some Zoomers are choosing to pursue career paths that are less likely to be subject to automation. Overall, Gen Z is influencing an increase in AI usage in the workplace, with younger adults more likely to use AI at work than their older counterparts.

The Vatican, in partnership with Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, has released a handbook on the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI), as defined by Pope Francis. The guidelines were created by a newly formed organization, the Institute for Technology, Ethics, and Culture (ITEC), and are designed to guide the tech industry through the complex issues of ethics in AI, machine learning, encryption, tracking, and more. The handbook takes a proactive approach, providing guidance for tech companies wrestling with AI's ethical challenges rather than waiting for government regulations. It advocates for building values and principles into technology and the companies that develop it from the start. The handbook outlines one primary principle for companies: “Our actions are for the Common Good of Humanity and the Environment." This principle is broken down into seven guidelines, such as “Respect for Human Dignity and Rights,” and “Promote Transparency and Explainability,” which are further divided into 46 specific, actionable steps, providing companies with practical advice.

🛠️AI tools updates

Unity has launched two new AI products, Unity Muse and Unity Sentis, with the aim of revolutionizing the creative process in game design and other applications. Unity Muse is an AI-driven platform designed to expedite the creation of real-time 3D applications through natural inputs like text and sketches. It includes Muse Chat, a feature offering AI-based search across Unity's documentation and resources. Unity Sentis, on the other hand, allows the integration of neural networks into builds, fostering unprecedented real-time experiences. Both products are currently in closed beta, encouraging user feedback to refine the offerings. Additionally, Unity is launching AI Verified Solutions, third-party AI tools which meet their quality and compatibility standards, available on the Unity Asset Store.

💵 Venture Capital updates

AI startup Typeface, a generative platform for enterprise content creation, has achieved a valuation of $1 billion following an oversubscribed Series B funding round led by Salesforce's global investment arm. This brings Typeface's total capital raised to $165 million. Participants in the $100 million round included Lightspeed Venture Partners, Madrona, GV (Google Ventures), Menlo Ventures, and M12, Microsoft's Venture Fund. The company, which supports a wide range of workflows across departments like marketing, sales, product, and human resources, recently signed strategic partnerships with Salesforce and Google to create highly customized content within their existing workflows. Back in February, when Typeface emerged from stealth and launched publicly, Lightspeed Venture Partners, GV, Menlo Ventures, and M12 had invested $65 million. Despite a broader slowdown in funding due to rising interest rates and high inflation, AI startups like Typeface have emerged as a bright spot for investments this year.

Celestial AI, a startup co-founded by David Lazovsky and Preet Virk, has raised $100M in a Series B funding round led by IAG Capital Partners, Koch Disruptive Technologies, and Temasek’s Xora Innovation fund, bringing its total raised to over $165M. The company developed a technology to address the "data movement" problem in AI and machine learning workloads, where it becomes challenging to transfer data to and from compute hardware as AI models scale up. Celestial's optical interconnect technology enables data transmission from compute-to-compute, compute-to-memory, and on-chip, using light to transfer data. It is claimed to reduce the electricity required for data movement, indirectly boosting chip performance and offering 25x higher bandwidth and 10x lower latency and power consumption than optical alternatives.

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