Alters Dev Used AI for Text, Vows Fixes

11 Bit Studios, the developer behind The Alters, has addressed fan concerns about AI-generated text and translation in the game, pledging to update these elements with manually created content.

Recently, players noticed what seemed to be AI-generated text within The Alters, particularly on a Command Center screen. The suspicious passage included the phrase, "Sure, here's a revised version focusing purely on scientific and astronomical data:" followed by a Captain's log entry—a clear indication of AI involvement with its introductory prompt accidentally left in.

Did The Alters (captain) use a little bit of AI?
byu/EarthlingKira inTheAlters

While the English version contained only this isolated case, non-English players reported localization issues, such as lines like "Sure! Here is the translated text into Brazilian Portuguese," suggesting AI was used for partial translation. Notably, The Alters' Steam page lacks Valve's required disclosure about AI usage.

In an email statement to IGN and social media posts, 11 Bit Studios clarified the situation. The studio explained the Captain's log text was an overlooked placeholder, with no other AI content present. Regarding localization, AI was used only for last-minute translations in late-added cutscenes, with plans to replace them post-launch with professional work.

The studio's complete statement reads:

We've noted the discussions about AI usage in The Alters and want to provide clarity. AI was employed minimally as temporary assets during development. Our team values handcrafted storytelling as a core principle.

A single AI-generated text, meant as graphical texture placeholder, accidentally remained in the final build due to oversight. We've verified this as an isolated incident and are updating the asset.

For transparency, we're sharing a screenshot showing its in-game appearance to demonstrate its negligible impact on gameplay.

Certain late-added licensed videos in the social area required rushed translations. Due to tight deadlines, we temporarily used AI translations with plans to update them post-launch through professional agencies. This update is currently in progress.

These videos represent just 0.3% of the game's total text (10k words out of 3.4 million). While we aimed to avoid English-only content for non-English players, we recognize this decision could have been handled better with clearer communication.

As AI technology advances, we're adapting our processes accordingly while maintaining our commitment to transparency about our development practices. We appreciate your understanding as we work to uphold these standards.

11 Bit Studios joins growing list of companies facing scrutiny over AI usage. Recently, Frontier Developments revised AI-generated portraits in Jurassic World Evolution 3 after criticism. Activision has faced backlash for AI use in promotional material, including ads for non-existent games and Black Ops 6 assets. Other titles like Palworld have disputed AI accusations, providing evidence against such claims.

Despite these concerns, our review awarded The Alters 8/10, praising its "atmospheric sci-fi narrative combined with engaging resource management that builds compelling tension throughout the story."