Paramount Games Creative Head Explains Why Generative AI Won't Speed Up Development

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By Alexandria LopezStaff Writer

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  • Primary Subject: Video Game Industry Trends
  • Key Update: Paramount Games Studio’s Senior VP of Creative & Production, Shawn Kittelsen, pushed back heavily against generative AI, explicitly stating that the tools lack maturity and do not offer truly meaningful time or cost savings.
  • Status: Confirmed
  • Last Verified: June 11, 2026
  • Quick Answer: Paramount Games VP Shawn Kittelsen doubts generative AI speeds up game production, stating the tools lack maturity and fail to provide meaningful efficiency or quality improvements.

Recently, we've seen an increase in game studios using AI in game development.

Most studios claim that AI is used during the early developmental stages, but that no AI will be featured in the final game. Some, however, end up accidentally including AI in the final release, like NTE and Crimson Desert.

But is AI actually useful in speeding up the game development process? Shawn Kittelsen, the vice president and head of creative production at Paramount Games, doesn't think so.

Paramount Games VP and Head of Creative Production Doubts AI Can Speed up Making Games

During an interview with The Game Business, Kittelsen expressed skepticism when talking about AI being used to speed up the process of making games.

A close-up of a woman's face with a rugged, textured appearance, set against a dark background. The text "Star Trek: Shadow Frontier" is displayed below the image.
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Credit: Paramount Games

While he acknowledges that it's easy to win points with investors by saying AI will be used to ensure everything is cheaper, faster, and "better," he doubts that's actually true. He states, "Those tools have not reached the point of maturity yet where we can say there are truly meaningful savings to be found."

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He adds that AI isn't actually helping speed up content development, nor is it improving the quality of the content they wish to create. Kittelsen adds, "We want human hands to be on our products."

Paramount Games believes they do things "by fans, for fans." Using AI would go completely against that whole philosophy. He explains this by saying, “If we say ‘by fans, for fans’, and then we put AI in, then it’s… ‘Well, who made the decisions about what’s fun?’ ‘Well, we let the computer decide.’ Did the computer grow up collecting Ninja Turtles action figures? And comic books? And dreaming of skateboarding in the sewers? No.”

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Credit: Paramount Games

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With AI becoming more rampant in the video game sphere, it's refreshing to see someone - especially someone in such a high position - push back on AI. Generative AI has notoriously stolen data from creatives around the world; it's not spewing anything new. Video games and most creative fields should prioritize human-made content.

Video games thrive on humanity, and I'm sure other gamers are glad to see Kittelsen agree.

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