Jack Buser, global director for games at Google Cloud, likened equipping game developers with artificial intelligence to giving them Iron Man’s high-tech suit—transforming their capabilities and enabling feats they couldn’t achieve before. Speaking with Business Insider, Buser emphasized that while some may resist, the shift toward AI in game development is now inevitable and accelerating. “There will always be holdouts, just like with every major technological revolution, but it’s becoming so widespread now,” Buser said. “We’re seeing a major shift.” He described AI not as a replacement for human creativity, but as a powerful enhancement—like a suit of armor that amplifies a developer’s potential. “The suit is still you inside,” Buser explained. “But now you can do things you couldn’t do before. If you equip everyone in your studio with these tools—tools that speed up work and eliminate repetitive, tedious tasks—it’s a game-changer. Once teams experience it, they tend to embrace it.” He urged game studio leaders and executives to take ownership of the transition by providing safe, well-integrated AI tools and fostering a culture of understanding. “If you’re the CTO of a game company, make that suit available,” he said. “Ensure it’s secure. Work closely with your teams to clarify what the technology can and cannot do, and what your goals are for using it.” Buser stressed that successful AI adoption isn’t just about technical integration—it requires cultural change. “It’s as much about how you bring people along as it is about getting the tools into your pipelines,” he added. He acknowledged that executives may feel uncertain about AI’s long-term impact. “You don’t have a crystal ball,” he said. “The best way to understand it is to get your hands dirty—experiment, test, see what works and what doesn’t.” Across industries, AI is reshaping workflows, sparking debate over job displacement, though many argue it empowers workers rather than replaces them. In gaming, Buser sees AI as a catalyst for innovation, especially in the growing “living games” model—where games evolve continuously with new content post-launch. AI could make these experiences more dynamic, personalized, and immersive, while drastically cutting the time needed to develop updates. “We’re looking toward real-time game experiences,” Buser said, where AI adapts content on the fly based on player behavior. Looking ahead, Buser predicts 2026 will mark the turning point for AI in gaming. “That’s when companies begin scaling their efforts,” he said. “Developers who’ve used AI in isolated parts of their workflow will start embedding it across the entire pipeline. You’ll see games that use multiple AI-driven features—each one shaping the player experience in new and meaningful ways.”