AI has the potential to "change the experience" of gaming like the Xbox Kinect, says former Microsoft exec

Former Microsoft gaming executive Ed Fries said generative AI could speed up game development, cut costs, and even change how players experience games.

He compared AI’s uncertain future to the Xbox Kinect, saying new technology only matters if designers use it to make something players actually want.

Fries said poorly directed AI art can look bad, but it may still help smaller teams work more efficiently.

He added that AI is already built into many common tools game teams use, even as the industry debates creativity, quality, and layoffs.