Microsoft Uses AI For Operational Functions, Not Mandated for Studios – Phil Spencer

by

Microsoft has been actively encouraging its teams to explore AI tools, but in its gaming division, these tools are currently limited to behind-the-scenes tasks. According to Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, AI is being used for things like network security and protection, rather than to help create games. He shared this information alongside Tim Schafer of Double Fine Studios at a panel discussion during the Paley International Council Summit.

Spencer was discussing network security, particularly features like text and voice chat on Xbox Live. He explained that with so many users today, it’s impossible to rely on human moderators alone to keep these communication tools safe.

Currently, we’re using AI primarily to keep our networks secure and protect our users. Human moderators alone can’t handle the sheer volume of activity, so we’ve implemented AI systems to monitor conversations, ensure safety – especially for children’s accounts – and control who interacts with those accounts, all based on parental or guardian-defined settings. While it might not be the most exciting application of AI, this is something we strongly believe in and focus on within our organization.

Regarding AI’s use in creative areas like writing and art creation, Spencer explained that individual game development teams can decide for themselves if and how to use it. He believes forcing teams to use these tools doesn’t work well, and that teams should be free to adopt AI if they think it will help them work more efficiently.

I give my creative teams a lot of freedom. I’ve learned they’ll naturally adopt tools that help them work better, and forcing them to use specific ones usually doesn’t work. I provide the resources, and then let them figure out what works best on their own.

Spencer discussed how AI could help players discover new games. With so many games being released – from independent developers and large companies alike – it’s become difficult to find titles you’ll enjoy. He suggested that AI, trained on your preferences, could potentially recommend games you might like.

Spencer mentioned the idea of discovery as something people are interested in – finding new things they’ll enjoy. He wondered if, in the future, AI tools could suggest items or content you might like based on your past activity, even things you wouldn’t have found on your own.

Regarding content creation, which is a common area of focus, our current plan doesn’t prioritize increasing output. Instead, we’re focused on how quickly we can experiment with new ideas and take chances to find our next big project. Right now, we’re using AI more for everyday tasks and efficiency than for actually creating content.

Read More

2025-10-24 17:43