Earlier this week, reports emerged that Valve was declining to publish games featuring AI-generated art and content. Over the weekend, the company addressed these concerns through a statement to IGN. Valve representative Kaci Aitchison Boyle clarified that the company is not attempting to discourage the use of AI on Steam. She explained that the confusion stems from Valve's efforts to integrate AI technology into its existing review process, which aligns with current copyright laws.
“Our priority is to publish as many titles as possible,” Aitchison Boyle stated. “We welcome and encourage innovation, and AI technology is set to create new and exciting experiences in gaming. While developers are free to use AI in their work with the proper commercial licenses, they must not infringe on existing copyrights.”
Additionally, Aitchison Boyle noted that Valve has been refunding submission credits for developers who mistakenly violated the company's current rules regarding AI-generated content. This proactive stance demonstrates Valve's commitment to navigating the challenges posed by the evolving landscape of AI technology in gaming—a challenge already seen in the music industry. For example, in April, streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube faced significant issues after an AI-generated Drake song was uploaded, leading to a copyright claim from Universal Music Group.