Generative AI has been making the rounds in the tech world since 2023, when it demonstrated its impressive ability to generate images, text, and videos. Now, the technology could soon impact the gaming industry, too, as President Takashi Kiryu's New Year 's letter revealed that Square Enix plans to use AI and other advanced technologies to create new forms of content by 2024.

Takashi Kiryu emphasized in the letter: "AI and its potential have long been a topic of debate in academia. But the emergence of ChatGPT, a tool that allows anyone to easily create text, translate, or chat, has ignited a wave of generative AI. I believe that AI has the potential to not only reshape the content we create, but also fundamentally change the creative process, including programming."

Initially, Square Enix will leverage AI to increase game development productivity and support marketing. Additionally, the company aims to build more immersive AR and VR experiences, with “new forms of content that combine the real and virtual worlds.”

However, Square Enix’s statement also mentioned ChatGPT, even though OpenAI, the tool’s parent company, was recently sued by The New York Times for copyright infringement. In the gaming industry, Valve and several other companies have also expressed concerns about using AI to create games on their platforms.

In fact, Square Enix has yet to say whether AI will be used to create characters, voices, environments, or any other elements in the game. Their statement is more of an idea than a concrete plan. This isn’t the first time Square Enix has announced “technological treasures” like blockchain, NFTs, and Web 3.0, but they were only mentioned in passing in this year’s letter.

Square Enix’s ambitious announcements open the door to a future in gaming where AI promises to deliver new experiences never before seen. However, there are still many concerns about the ethical, legal, and even practical aspects of handing over the work of game creation to AI. Will this be a breakthrough or just an unrealistic promise? The answer will gradually be revealed in 2024 and beyond.