D&D Using AI Is More Proof That Hasbro Doesn't Understand Dungeons & Dragons Fans

Hasbrohas reaffirmed its commitment to using AI in the making of , proving once again that there's a disconnect between the game's parent company and the average player. has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997, which was later bought by Hasbro in 1999. Its series of AI controversies began in August 2023, when a piece of art used to promote the sourcebook was admitted to have been AI-assisted. WotC responded by updating its artist guidelines to officially prohibit the use of AI, and many considered the matter ended.

But the controversy continued in December of that year, when a piece of art used to promote the 2024 was revealed to have been AI-generated. WotC responded with a statement on , in which it pledged not to use AI in generating "," only to turn around and use an AI-generated image to promote a series of retro-styled cards. But 's recurirng AI controversies are more than a series of coincidences. All the while, Hasbro's executives have continuously extolled the virtues of AI, proving there's a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes great.

During a recent Goldman Sachs conference (reported by ), Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks made a series of positive statements about the use of AI in , continuing a worrying trend. First, he admits that Hasbro has already been using AI in the creation of: "" That's not so concerning in and of itself; these kinds of technologies have existed for a while, and aren't subject to the same moral quandaries as more recent generative AI systems. It's the other part of Cocks' statement, though, that's really rubbed fans the wrong way:

«I'm probably more excited though about the playful elements of AI. I play with probably 30 or 40 people regularly. There's not a single person who doesn't use AI somehow for either campaign development or character development or story ideas. That's a clear signal that we need to be embracing it.»

WotC has made it clear there's no place for generative AI in final game materials, but there are