Idk where to put this, some of it is quite technical, but others is more personal. So apologies in advance.

For reference, I started thinking about this after reading the post “Big Walk Fixed a Bug With AI” in the games community.

For full disclosure, I used/created programs around AI before LLMs were even a thing, back when it was called “deep learning” or “machine learning”, and I have used and taught classes on Large Language Models (specifically local tools and open weight models not the proprietary ones), I’ve written a toy version of GPT2 using TensorFlow. The whole situation around AI sucks now. It was one of my special interests and now its beyond radioactive.

For the purposes of this post I’m going to use the term AI to mean anything using the transformer architecture (or similar). I think that when you get down to neural networks in general its so far removed from LLMs that its probably fine like the game Bibites, but let me know if you think this is not broad enough of a definition and why.

Until recently I thought that using local LLMs on my own hardware using open weight models was the most reasonable way to use LLMs, especially after watching this video by Dr. Fatima How to (Anti) AI Better; but now I’m not so sure.

I don’t want to fall into either trap of being “too idealist” and not using a tool for no reason, but I also don’t want to be using a tool that is unethical.

It seems like regardless of the answer of this, the general consensus as far as games are concerned is that LLMs should not be used at all, but what does that really mean?

I’m trying to think of ways to effectively cut out AI influence as much as possible from my personal projects, especially tools and games.

To take this to its extreme first and work backwards. Let’s say that if AI were used at all in the development of that tool/platform that we should boycott/not use that thing.

First we have the issue of tooling, that means basically no 3d modeling software because I’m pretty sure that blender allows AI code. Maybe use an older LTS version? Same thing with frameworks and game engines, likely not safe or suitable. So I guess I would have to roll my own tools because I can’t be sure if they have used AI code. There really isn’t a good way to know.

What about compilers? Once again, I guess that old versions would really be the only safe way to use that. I think even GNU has a policy of “legally distinct” changes not “no LLM”. Maybe using the linker from libtcc and using a different compiler backend like QBE?

Then we get to OS/platform; obviously all the proprietary OS’s and software are out; that’s easy and a given. Phones too need to be out because they are mostly proprietary. The weird grey area is modern game consoles, since they likely are using LLMs for firmware updates and whatnot.

The bigger issue now is Linux since it allows AI generated code, so that means that we can’t use Linux or Linux based phones/consoles either. I just saw that FreeBSD is creating a policy that seems to be pro AI.

So that more or less leaves OpenBSD, 9front, and OS’s that are even more obscure.

I suppose too that games could be created for older systems like 7th gen consoles and earlier?

But maybe that’s too restrictive? Because then I would not be able to release the game on more or less any platform, because they all are using AI now, including Linux.

So, is it enough to say that the game itself was written on 100% AI free software and technology? And distribution of the software/game via its platform is separate?

If so, maybe doing 99% of the work on say OpenBSD but cross compiling (where possible) is the way to go? And then releasing it like any other game?

Or is it ok to use platforms that use AI but just not use it yourself? Like as long as I personally did not use AI tools but the tools that I used did then it’s ok because it’s 1 level removed from the creative process?

If so then using Linux and other open source tools would be fine as long as specifically LLMs were not used during the creation of the tool/game.

I just don’t know anymore. Everything just sucks.