Todd Howard Says Bethesda Is Not Using AI to Generate Assets or Writing
Bethesda Game Studios studio head Todd Howard has stated that the studio is currently not using artificial intelligence to generate anything in its games, addressing one of the most contentious debates in modern game development. The topic came up during a recent appearance on the Kinda Funny Games, where Howard described Bethesda’s approach as highly cautious, framing AI as a tool for analysis rather than automation of creative work.
Howard’s message was direct. Bethesda is not using AI to generate game assets or writing. Instead, the studio is looking at AI as something closer to an analyst that can help interpret the vast amount of data generated inside Bethesda games. In his view, there is an element of artistic intention that is essential to what Bethesda makes, and that human intention is not something the studio wants to dilute by replacing creation with generation.
He also compared game development to craftsmanship, reinforcing the idea that the human touch is what makes a project feel special. At the same time, Howard acknowledged that AI is not a fad and that the technology evolves so quickly that any firm industry stance can feel outdated within months. His takeaway was that the right answer often becomes ask again in 6 months because the tools and capabilities shift rapidly, especially on the technology side where code and productivity systems keep accelerating.
Where Bethesda does see value today is in big data style tasks, using AI to handle time consuming back end work and validation that would otherwise pull developers away from creative problem solving. The pitch is simple and very production minded. If AI can reduce repetitive analysis and support decision making, it can give teams more room to focus on writing, world building, quest design, encounter tuning, and the hand crafted details that define a Bethesda RPG.
For players watching The Elder Scrolls VI closely, this is likely reassuring. No matter how opinions land on generative AI in games overall, Howard is signaling that Bethesda’s core identity is still anchored to deliberate authoring, and that any AI adoption is currently aimed at clearing operational clutter rather than replacing creative direction. If that balance holds, the studio may be able to preserve the classic Bethesda feel while improving iteration speed and validation behind the scenes.
Do you want studios like Bethesda to keep AI strictly in an analyst role, or would you be comfortable with limited generative use as long as the final content is still curated and authored by humans?
