New AI Mod For 'GTA 5' Offers Glimpse At AI's Future In Gaming

Three characters from GTA V in poster art.

Image Source: Tecnoblog

The recent debate surrounding the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) has now officially entered the main stage of the video game industry. AI has been a recurring theme for the past few months because it was highlighted in the SAG-AFTRA contractual demands, but now it has reached a whole new level.

The almost-10-year-old game Grand Theft Auto V, known for its possibilities of allowing players to modify the game, joined this world recently. The mod that introduced AI in GTA V is called Sentient Streets, in allusion to both the built-in NPCs and the new set of missions and dialogues that come with it. The plot created for these missions is about a cult that venerates AI as a god. Weird topic for a cult, right?

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This mod was created by the modding veteran Bloctheworker, who utilized the Inworld AI engine. This mod introduces some nice features, even though they still seem somewhat artificial. The player who uses this mod is able to talk to the AI - whoever they may be -  with their microphone. The answers are a little bit robotic and awkward sometimes, but the possibilities for this are interesting. Take a look below at a brief demonstration of how this works:

Bloc used ElevenLabs software, a company that works in the new text-to-speech, AI, and deep learning methods. They were not forgotten by critics of AI tools; the main concern, much like those shared by the actors involved with the recent Hollywood strikes, is about whose voice is being employed for these NPCs. In a statement to IGN, Elevenlabs argues that they are not infringing any laws or rights of usage. According to ElevenLabs, the voice database they have was ethically built, using methods that do not affect actors involved with the company.

Overall, the debate about AI is gradually getting to all sides of life, mainly the in entertainment industry. As it is a business that gathers a lot of attention, the implementation of AI should be part of the present and future headlines. As long as the methods are ethical and no privacy laws are being infringed, it should be ok to continue, but if it gets to a point where human voices are being cloned without consent and implemented in high-grossing products such as GTA V, that is where the line must be drawn. Clearly, this matter will not go away anytime soon. As production teams get their hands on more accurate AI tools, this will likely be part of a new reality.

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