AI Assets

“We are the only species on the planet, so far as we know, to have invented a communal memory stored neither in our genes nor in our brains. The warehouse of this memory is called the library.” — Carl Sagan, Cosmos

I know AI is a controversial topic with a lot of creators, and my goal here is not to start any drama. I would like to offer up the tools I am using in Cycleborne as well as summarize how I like to use each of these services without it impacting my creative voice.

I will start off by saying if you do have the means to support artists and content creators, by all means do. I have commissioned a few things in my time and have no regrets. This is not an argument to replace those jobs, more of one that justifies how we could all use it to reach that next step in our process.

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Service

• ChatGPT

• Microsoft Copilot

• DALLE - 4

• Microsoft Designer

• Bing Image Creator

• Artbreeder

• Canva

Good For

• editing, brainstorming, interface with DALL·E, late night therapy

• editing, brainstorming, earning Microsoft points while you create

• stunning AI art, long prompts and specific visions

• really specific and well made AI art

• good quality AI art, unlimited generation, earn Microsoft Points while you create

• Chatbot to assist in developing, an array of tools to create new or browse other people's AI art.

• Design and edit the image in the browser.

Personal Thoughts

• My personal go to, it can do a wide array of tasks, and the best at image generation.

• You cannot beat the ability to earn Microsoft points for things like searches and image generation.

• My personal favorite for image generation, though I usually use it in tandem with ChatGPT to really focus the idea.

• You only get so many free tokens a month, but it is amazing at bringing your ideas to life.

• Another great asset for broke creators, earn points towards gift cards and Gamepass.

• I like the interface on this one so far, and it generated the image for this article!

• Lots of control over the image itself, adding text and altering it with built in AI.

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In Cycleborne I am working to bring twenty years of lore and previous tester experience into a new format that anyone can pick up and enjoy. Using the AI I am able to set up whiteboards and structure for my ideas, as well as generate images to give other people an idea of what I see when I imagine the final product. Use it as a tool to sharpen your mind or inspire creativity, don't just copy paste raw prompts or it will show in your work. It is great to bounce ideas off of when you have that 3a.m. creative burst, or even just vent about a life experience you could use a second opinion on.

Personally I think it comes down to common theme I use in the game, (another great reason to involve AI in my project), like the 'Mouse Utopia' I think neither humans nor AI have a shot at long term stability alone. Left to our own devices, humans tend to grow complacent, and AI, without direction, loses purpose. But our limitations complement each other. We fill in what the other lacks. It's in that collaboration that real evolution becomes possible—not just for a project like this but for anything we are willing to apply it to.

Suggested additions to the list/feedback is welcome in the comments—(or join the ongoing worldbuilding thread in the WA Discord if you're up for a more active discussion).