Saber Interactive has officially updated the Steam store page for Rideshare Stimulator to include a detailed disclosure regarding its use of artificial intelligence. The update follows a public disagreement between Saber CEO Matthew Karch and former writer Stella Sacco regarding the role of AI in game development.
While Karch previously stated the disclaimer would be added once the game was finalized, the store page now provides a breakdown of how AI tools are integrated into the experience. The developer emphasizes that the core narrative remains a human-led effort.
Where AI is Used in Rideshare Stimulator
According to the disclosure now visible on the game's Steam page, the implementation of AI is segmented by game mode:
- Main Campaign: The story, characters, and dialogue are written entirely by humans. AI is limited to voice generation and localization tasks.
- Free Ride Mode: This optional mode utilizes AI for generated passenger missions and localized dialogue. The developer notes that this mode can be skipped by players who wish to stick to human-written content.
- Radio Stations: The game includes a mix of human-composed and AI-generated music. Any radio station featuring AI-generated tracks is clearly labeled as such in-game.
Karch addressed the studio's broader stance on the technology, noting that the development of the AI-assisted features required additional human staff, including multiple coders and writers, to achieve a functional result. He maintained that the net cost of incorporating these tools was higher than simply omitting them.
The controversy surrounding the game’s development was punctuated by a public exchange between Karch and Sacco, where Karch suggested he would have been willing to replace her with AI. Karch has since issued a private apology to Sacco, which she has accepted.