# A question for the industry: How will external developers use AI tools? | The DeanBeat

> Source: <https://gamesbeat.com/a-question-for-the-industry-how-will-external-developers-use-ai-tools-the-deanbeat/>
> Published: 2026-08-08 15:00:00+00:00

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Here’s a question I’m pondering. How will external developers use AI tools for their customers, the game development and publishing companies?

When [Microsoft laid off 1,600](https://gamesbeat.com/xbox-layoff-reactions-the-industry-reacts-to-microsofts-biggest-course-correction-in-gaming/) and said it would lay off 1,600 more (or perhaps 1,250) in early July, I interviewed an external developer who lost a job as a result. It was sad to note that this impact of the layoff decision had an unseen impact on the developer who didn’t actually work for Microsoft.

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