The Cyberpunk 2077 team experimented with AI-NPCs, but the studio didn't like the result

A host of game studios are exploring the possibilities of generative AI in NPC creation, from ConvAI-based characters to Ubisoft's Neo NPCs. These innovations are breaking new ground in game design, with Ubisoft claiming that such technologies could radically change how players interact with NPCs.

However, CD Projekt RED's Pavel Sasko believes that artificial intelligence still has a long way to go to reach the level of hand-drawn quality.

In an interview with Aftermath, Sasko mentioned the studio's AI research without going into details. He expressed skepticism about the ability of AI-NPCs to achieve the complexity and depth that writers put into their characters. Sasko sees potential in using AI to improve interactivity, but noted that there are still many hurdles in front of AI in the areas of scripting and voice acting.

Sasko also emphasized the significant gap between manually created content - unique and detailed - and what AI can offer. He compares the current experiments with AI-NPCs to the studio's work on the Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty add-on, describing the vast difference in the end result.