Electronic Arts is officially leaning into the future of automation. During the recent iicon event in Las Vegas, EA CEO Andrew Wilson on AI provided new insights into how the publisher is integrating machine learning into their production pipeline.
The Scale of AI in EA's QA Workflow
According to data presented by Wilson, the integration of automated tools is much more widespread than many realize. As reported by Game File, approximately 85% of the company's quality-assurance work is currently being performed alongside some form of machine learning or AI-driven algorithm.
Despite the rise of automation, the studio isn't shrinking its human workforce. Wilson noted that the implementation of these tools has not led to lower employment within the QA department. In fact, he claimed: "We hire more QA people than we ever have."
Managing the "Simple Stuff"
The strategy involves using AI to handle the most repetitive elements of development. However, this creates a new demand for human oversight to ensure accuracy. Wilson explained that:
- AI handles "the simple stuff" within the QA process.
- More workers are required to verify these automated outputs.
- Human testers are essential for checking the work generated by algorithms.
How EA CEO Andrew Wilson on AI is Changing Workloads
While it might seem counterintuitive that more automation leads to more hiring, this phenomenon reflects a growing trend in the tech industry. The perspective shared by EA CEO Andrew Wilson on AI aligns with recent academic findings regarding automation.
A report from the Harvard Business Review suggests that early evidence shows AI does not necessarily reduce the total amount of work. Instead, it often intensifies it, requiring developers to manage more complex layers of oversight and validation than before.
