Garry Newman: AI Helps Coding but Overuse Kills Imagination
Interview Overview
Generally, I was lucky to get a chance to sit down with PC Gamer and have a chat with Garry Newman, the guy who made Garry’s Mod and is working on s&box, about his feelings on AI. Normally, people think AI is just a tool, but Newman has some strong opinions about it. Obviously, he knows what he’s talking about, since he’s been using AI in his work.
AI Boosts Productivity
Usually, AI tools are really helpful, and Newman says they’re a big part of his daily routine, saving him time on boring tasks so he can focus on the fun stuff. Naturally, he uses them a lot, but he also thinks that relying too much on AI can make you lazy, and that’s not good. Sometimes, it’s better to do things yourself, even if it takes longer.
The Porn Analogy
Interestingly, Newman compared using AI too much to watching too much porn, saying it can hurt your imagination, like a crutch for your brain. Honestly, it was a weird thing to say, but it made sense, and everyone in the room laughed. Apparently, if you use AI for everything, you’ll lose the ability to think for yourself, and that’s a problem.
Research Findings
Recently, I found out about a study from MIT, where they looked at how people who used ChatGPT did on tests, and the results were surprising. Generally, the people who used AI did worse, and their brains didn’t work as hard, which is kinda scary. Although, the study was small, it still shows that AI can be a shortcut, and that’s not always a good thing.
Educational Benefits
Normally, you’d think that AI would just do the work for you, but Newman says it actually taught him some cool coding tricks he didn’t know before. Usually, he learns more from the AI’s suggestions than he would from just searching online, which is pretty cool. Obviously, AI can be a great tool for learning, if you use it right.
AI in s&box
Eventually, I asked Newman about how AI would work in s&box, and he thinks the community will figure it out themselves. Naturally, people will make some low-effort AI mods, but they’ll probably get lost in the rankings, and people will prefer the original work. Usually, that’s how it goes, and the good stuff rises to the top.
Industry Perspective
Generally, Newman thinks you can’t ignore AI, since we’re already using it a lot in development, and it’s getting faster all the time. Obviously, there are some problems, like art rights, where creators are worried that their work is being used to train AI models without permission. Sometimes, it’s hard to know what to do, but Newman thinks we’ll figure it out.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the key is to use AI as a tool, not a crutch, and keep a balance between using AI and doing things yourself. Normally, if you can do that, you’ll be able to work faster and still keep your creative spark, which is important for making great games. Usually, it’s all about finding that balance, and Newman thinks it’s possible.
