Google's Project Genie AI Tool Spooks the Video Game Industry

Google's world-building AI tool isn't ready to start replacing human jobs just yet, but the writing is on the wall. Project Genie, which moved from limited access to Google Ultra AI subscribers on Jan. 29, lets users generate video game worlds with prompts. Those worlds don't rival the gorgeous settings of today's hit games (yet), but Wall Street certainly seems to think that a sea change in the industry has arrived.

Stocks for big game developers took a hit shortly after Google posted last week's update about Project Genie. Take-Two Interactive, which owns Grand Theft Auto publisher Rockstar Games, was among the companies whose stock was dented shortly after the news broke. Unity Software, which offers a 3D game engine for developers, also suffered. These companies (and others like them) employ human game designers to create the lifelike worlds that make their games so compelling ...