Has your Dungeon Master discussed using artificial intelligence to “optimize” yourDungeons & Dragonscampaign at the table? Well, they just got a big fate stamp from Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks, who dropped an opinion that could set the stage for a bitter brawl between him and Wizards of the Coast.
Chris Cocks uses AI in Dungeons and Dragons, and he wants everyone else to use it, too
In a recent interview withSemafor, Chris Cocks opened up about his desire to see Habsro management approach game development as active fans of the properties they own, not distant observers who never sit in for game night. This is an admirable ambition; however, it didn’t take long for Cocks to round back to the hot topic of incorporating generative AI intoDungeons & Dragons.
Opening up about his own experience as a Dungeon Master, Cocks proudly confessed that he regularly uses AI to generate storylines, produce artwork, and even create voices for his D&D characters. Hailing AI as a “fantastic leveler for user-generated content,” Cocks enthusiastically outlined his desire to see every brand under Hasbro’s umbrella incorporate AI to some extent. Some of Cocks’ imagined innovations include a subscription service for DMs who want to use generative AI in theirD&Dcampaigns and an editing tool that would let parents use AI to makePeppa Pigvideos.
This news probably didn’t surprise those following AI’s steady encroachment into the tabletop scene. A self-described “A.I. bull,” Cocks has never been shy about his unbridled enthusiasm for AI and his belief that it’s being criminally underutilized. He’s been upfront about his desire to integrate AI andD&D, arguing thatevery D&D player he knows already uses AI to “enhance” their gaming experience, so its official integration into the game’s development and distribution is, in his opinion, “inevitable.”
Chris Cocks’ support for AI puts him at odds with Wizards of the Coast
While Cocks may be all for bringingD&Dand AI together in digital matrimony, Wizards of the Coast, D&D’s publishers, aren’t ready to embrace the union. After a freelance artist admitted that he’d used AI to generate art that made its way intoD&D‘sBigby’s Presents: Glory of the Giantsexpansion in 2023, Wizards took a no-tolerance approach to AI, banning official artists from using it to create art forMagic: The Gatheringcards andposting their official stance on AI toD&D Beyond.
For 50 years, D&D has been built on the innovation, ingenuity, and hard work of talented people who sculpt a beautiful, creative game. That isn’t changing. Our internal guidelines remain the same with regards to artificial intelligence tools: We require artists, writers, and creatives contributing to the D&D TTRPG to refrain from using AI generative tools to create final D&D products. We work with some of the most talented artists and creatives in the world, and we believe those people are what makes D&D great.
D&DandMTG’s fanbasehave responded well to Wizards’ opposition to AI, but Cocks’ stance could put the publisher in a difficult position later down the road. While public opinion may be on their side, that doesn’t change the fact that Hasbro owns Wizards of the Coast. As CEO of Hasbro, Cocks has the power to push his AI initiative forward, even if Wizards aren’t okay with it. If that happens,D&Dplayers might get weird responses when they ask their favorite NPCs to write a poem.
