Todd Howard says AI is not a fad but insists on preserving handcrafted game design

The head of development behind The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series has offered a cautious but firm assessment of artificial intelligence in video game production, saying the technology is not a passing trend but should not replace human creativity. Todd Howard, director of The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5, said the industry is still working out how generative AI might fit into game development, and that Bethesda is deliberately taking a careful approach.

Howard made the comments during an interview published on 18 February, as studios across the games industry continue to explore how AI tools could speed up production, cut costs and reshape creative workflows.

Industry interest in AI continues to grow

Game studios worldwide are experimenting with generative AI systems that can write dialogue, create artwork, generate code and assist with testing. The rapid rise of large language models and image generators has prompted debate about whether the technology could transform development or threaten jobs in creative industries.

Howard pushed back against the suggestion that AI is a temporary trend. “It’s certainly not a fad,” he said. “I think the AI answer now becomes ‘ask me in six months,’ right? It changes so much what you’re seeing out there. For us, we’re being incredibly cautious.”

He said the pace of change makes it difficult to predict how the tools will evolve and be integrated into production pipelines. According to Howard, Bethesda is exploring AI for technical tasks but is wary of applying it to artistic work. The company’s cautious stance reflects a broader uncertainty among major studios about how far to embrace automation while protecting creative integrity.

Howard acknowledged that AI is advancing rapidly and could deliver practical benefits, especially in technical fields. “We can’t ignore it, in terms of its coming, it’s changing, every few months there’s a new model, particularly on the tech side with code or productivity or other things,” he said. He added that the technology could help with tasks that involve large amounts of data and would otherwise consume significant development time.

Bethesda limits AI to technical support tasks

Howard confirmed that Bethesda is experimenting with AI in limited ways, focusing on productivity rather than creative output. He suggested the technology could reduce time spent on repetitive tasks and free developers to focus on design, storytelling and gameplay.

“It can help us get better at some big data tasks that just take us a lot of time, that we wish were done now so we can move on to the creative stuff,” he said.

However, he stressed that AI is not currently used to create content that appears in Bethesda’s games. While he did not provide details on whether the company uses AI for concept references or internal testing, he made it clear that generative systems are not producing final assets for release.

This position places Bethesda among studios that are testing AI behind the scenes while avoiding public-facing creative use. Some companies have faced criticism from players and artists after revealing AI-generated artwork, writing or voice acting, with concerns about originality, ethics and job security.

Howard’s comments suggest that Bethesda wants to avoid similar controversy while still exploring the technology’s practical advantages.

Emphasis on human creativity and craftsmanship

Despite recognising AI’s potential, Howard argued that human creativity remains essential to making games distinctive and meaningful. He said artistic intention is central to the studio’s identity and should not be replaced by automated systems.

“We’re not using it to generate anything,” he said. “I think there’s an element of artistic intention that is essential to what we do and what others do. And if you look across things outside of AI, go back a hundred years, this idea of craftsmen, I still think craftsmen, and that handcrafted human intention, is what makes things special, and that’s where we want to be.”

His remarks highlight a broader tension within the industry between efficiency and artistry. While AI tools promise faster development cycles and reduced costs, many developers and players value handcrafted worlds, characters and stories that reflect human creativity.

Howard’s cautious stance also reflects wider uncertainty about the social and economic impact of AI. Some commentators have predicted dramatic disruption in creative industries, while others argue that the technology will become a standard tool that complements rather than replaces human work.

By avoiding detailed predictions, Howard appeared to distance himself from more extreme views about AI’s future. He framed the technology as an evolving tool whose role in game development will become clearer over time, rather than a revolutionary force that will immediately transform the industry.

As anticipation builds for The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5, Howard’s comments suggest that Bethesda plans to maintain a traditional approach to creative design, even as it experiments with new technologies behind the scenes. The studio’s approach may influence how other major developers balance innovation with artistic tradition in the coming years.