D&D's AI Talk Proves It Didn't Learn From The OGL Debacle Last Year

has been no stranger to recent controversy, and some new buzz around the involvement of AI has reignited tensions regarding the future of the game. Artificial intelligence has been a big talking point in the past couple of years, with developments in text, image, and video generation leaving many concerned about the future of artistic industries. As people look to companies for reassurance about creator rights and a focus on human work, they're often receiving the opposite in return.

The relationship between and community creators has always been a crucial aspect of the tabletop game, from the homebrew that a dungeon master might make for their table to large-scale publishers printing major additions to the game. This came under threat in 2023 when publisher Wizards of the Coast announced changes to the Open Game License that's used to legally build on core ideas and mechanics from the game. After significant backlash, the company rolled it back completely and even added a Creative Commons provision to assuage fears that the permanence of the license could no longer be trusted.

Wizards of the Coast might have more or less weathered the OGL storm, but trouble is once again brewing between the company and 's community. As reported by, a recent interview with Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks included some concerning comments regarding the use of AI in Hasbro brands, included. Cocks became the CEO of Hasbro in 2022 after starting in 2016 as the president of Wizards of the Coast, which has been a division of the larger toy and game company since 1999.

When questioned about the possibility of training AI on Hasbro IPs to guide future franchise work, Cocks elaborated on the direction that Hasbro could ultimately take with AI. Although he hedges that he doesn't think Hasbro "" in its usage of AI, he mostly frames it as a source of exciting possibilities.The most troubling statement for fans is a reference to "" from the sourcebooks and adventures created over the years, positioning