There is a lot of noise right now claiming that artificial intelligence suddenly unlocks creativity. The narrative lead for Clair Obscur is not buying that claim. To her, AI looks like clever statistics, not a shortcut to better writing.
AI is clever math, not a muse
She described how the technology works in plain terms, saying it is essentially about regressions, linear algebra, matrices and vast amounts of data. That tickled a mathematical curiosity, she admitted, but it did not translate into anything useful for her own writing practice. In short, AI might be neat to study, but it is not part of her workflow.
Why it does not appeal to her
- Creative control: She sees writing as a personal and often difficult process. The goal is to put what she has in her head onto the page.
- Practical limits: AI, for her, feels closer to an advanced search than a collaborator that can capture the specific voice and intent she needs.
- Not workflow-friendly: She does not use the outputs in her process and does not consider AI tools a replacement for the craft.
The controversy around Clair Obscur
The game faced public pushback after an awards body rescinded two awards linked to the project over the use of generative AI in production. The studio said those assets were placeholder textures. That explanation did not stop the headlines or the criticism, and the situation has been cited alongside other industry examples where AI use produced awkward publicity moments.
Ultimately, the narrative lead summed up her view plainly. Writing is a painful process for her, but that pain is part of the point. The aim is to express the ideas she carries in her head, and AI has not tempted her to hand that over to an algorithm.
