Life Finds a Way

Jurassic Park has long served as a cautionary tale about the potential perils of leveraging technology to commodify life. Frontier Developments, the studio behind the upcoming Jurassic World Evolution 3, appears to have learned this lesson once again. Recently, they announced their decision to eliminate AI-generated artwork from the game ahead of its anticipated launch in October. This move follows considerable backlash over the initial inclusion of AI-generated scientist avatars.

The game, which was revealed back in 2024, garnered excitement during its gameplay trailer at the Summer Game Fest earlier this month. Players showed interest in new mechanics, like generational dinosaur breeding and customizable terrains. However, enthusiasm waned when fans noticed the inclusion of AI-generated content disclosures on the game’s Steam page, mentioning that “scientists’ avatars are created using generative AI.”

Within hours, discussions on the game’s forum exploded, prompting a long thread titled “No Gen AI Andy’s around here, no thanks,” which escalated to 18 pages of debate. Criticisms led to Frontier’s acknowledgment on June 24, stating, “We have opted to remove the use of generative AI for scientist portraits within Jurassic World Evolution 3.” This decision signals a small victory for gamers advocating for the integrity of artistic employment in video game development.

In conclusion, while the uprising of AI in gaming is a trend to watch, it’s essential to remember the value of human artistry. Jurassic World Evolution 3 is scheduled for release on October 21.