The Future of AI and the Shifting Economics of the Games Industry

Joost van Dreunen, co-founder of SuperData Research and professor at NYU Stern School of Business, discusses the problems facing the industry, including the lack of connection between industry and education, and the future of AI in gaming. He notes that the industry is maturing, with games becoming more like lifelong journeys, but there are still challenges to be addressed, such as the lack of clear on-ramps from academia to the professional environment and the need for better labour protections. Van Dreunen also believes that AI will not replace human-created content, as players value organic and human-built experiences over AI-generated ones, and that the industry will see a shift towards more low-tech, low-brow games that focus on player interaction and community.