Game artist Kenney Vleugels calls out AI billionaires, Tim Sweeney responds with Elon Musk's support

Game artist Kenney Vleugels posted on Twitter that billionaires should not convince developers that AI-generated content is the future. He argued that billionaires are used to managing and directing rather than making things themselves, so they cannot see the difference or understand the love for the craft.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney responded by calling Vleugels' post bullshit. Sweeney said he is the same tech tree following optimist who moved from C to C++, from 2D to 3D, and from closed source to open source. He stated that he runs a company, writes code, and contributes to published papers, adding that he has upped his expectations of AI.

Vleugels told Sweeney that Epic Games employees are liking his post and reach out to him all the time. He said the adapt or die messaging around AI tools is exhausting and unfair, stressing that developers want to choose their own paths. Elon Musk later responded to Sweeney's reply, saying Tim Sweeney is right.

Sweeney argued that the velocity of AI development is the force to be reckoned with, stating it is becoming a race between cars and rockets. He said there is risk that convincing developers to abstain from the new way leaves them behind. Vleugels wrapped up by noting that artists have been force fed NFTs, metaverse, blockchain, and now AI, suggesting these things should naturally take their course and find their place or not.