Palworld: Controversy over Alleged GenAI Use Lacks Concrete Evidence

In just a matter of three days post its early access launch, Palworld has ascended to immense popularity, while also becoming embroiled in controversy. A vocal group comprising artists, game developers, and concerned individuals have levied two main accusations against the game. The allegations suggest that the game not only incorporates elements reminiscent of Pokémon but also insinuates that Palworld's developer, Pocket Pair, might have employed GenAI technology in the game's creation.

Unfounded Accusations

Despite the emergence of these allegations, there is, to date, no definitive evidence to support the claims of GenAI usage in Palworld. There are discussions and hypotheses on the matter, but nothing that proves any elements within Palworld have been designed or generated through GenAI. The speculation has root in various tweets from Pocket Pair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, who previously demonstrated a keen interest in GenAI and its possibilities, especially relating to Pokémon. Additionally, a prior game by Pocket Pair, AI: Art Imposter, dabbled with GenAI but was more of an ironic take on the technology rather than a serious application.

Steam Policy and AI Disclosure

According to a blog post by Pocket Pair in January 2024, an artist who faced numerous rejections from different companies was tasked with designing most of the characters in Palworld. Furthermore, a recent policy update by Steam now requires game developers to disclose their use of AI technology, which should be visible on the Steam store page. Palworld's page has no such disclosure, which could imply a lack of AI use in its development.

CEO's Interest in GenAI

While the CEO of Pocket Pair has shown a certain degree of enthusiasm towards GenAI, and the company has experimented with the technology, there hasn't been any solid proof that it was implemented in Palworld. Considering the interest in GenAI from leading figures in the gaming industry, lacking evidence means accusations against Palworld remain speculative. On monster design, the game attributes its creation to a specific individual rather than AI.

Differentiating Design Controversy

The debate surrounding monster design similarities to Pokémon is separate from the AI debate and is somewhat contradictory, as the accusation is that Palworld may have copied Game Freak's models directly, which doesn't involve AI. Nonetheless, there is no conclusive evidence yet presented of any form of theft or direct copying from Pokémon to Palworld.

The Waiting Game for Concrete Evidence

As the gaming community awaits further developments, any new evidence could tip the scales regarding the use of AI in Palworld. Any such discovery would require proper disclosure to comply with Steam's policies. Unless and until solid evidence surfaces, the discussions revolving around Palworld's use of GenAI remain hypothetical, and the game's monster designs are officially credited to a human artist.

Palworld, GenAI, controversy