Critical Role's Sam Riegel calls AI "Garbage" for art and music

There is no doubt that artificial intelligence is disrupting several industries as companies look for ways to use the technology to reduce costs and optimize outputs.

However, this approach has begun to seep into creative fields as several studios have been caught including AI-generated assets in the final versions of their games, causing widespread backlash from the AI-rejecting gaming community.

There are very few people who want to see simple and derivative art in video games and other creative fields, including tabletop role-playing games. There have been minor controversies in both Warhammer 40,000 and Magic: The Gathering, but tabletop companies are very wary of committing to AI because the tabletop community is even more vehemently opposed to the technology than the video game community.

A critical role will never use AI

Matthew Mercer looking to the side in a promotional image for the fourth Critical Role campaign.

This sentiment is shared by Sam Riegel, co-founder and cast member of Critical Role. In an interview with ComicsBeat, Riegel discussed the unsuitability of AI for creative industries like art and music.

“I think our view is that it's basically garbage,” Riegel said. “There are people and artists who use it like Peter [Peter Habib, music producer who often works with Critical Role] they're talking about. But we're not one of them.”

Riegel reflects that AI was originally envisioned as something that could eliminate the boring aspects of life, but then companies tried to force it into areas where people actually enjoy their work.

Every character and voice actor in the large cast of the Critical Roles 4 campaign

Campaign 4 has 13 player characters, so who plays whom in a critical role this time?

“But now the new idea from these AI companies seems to be: 'AI can do that too'. It can create and make poetry and music. But that's what makes us human beings, and why should we give it away?” he asks.

It's like asking an AI to play a video game or watch a sunset for you. Why would we deprive ourselves of the activities that make life fulfilling? The answer for corporations is obvious – it can save them some money and increase their stock price.

“Art isn't meant to be easy. That's why it's worth it. There was no artificial intelligence used in any of this, and we have no intention of using it in the future,” he adds.

Critical Role is currently in the middle of its fourth campaign, with episode 30 scheduled to air tonight.