Saber Interactive adds AI disclaimer to Rideshare on Steam; CEO Matt Karch apologies to former lead writer

Saber Interactive added an AI disclaimer to Rideshare Simulator's Steam page after former lead writer Stella Sacco alleged she was replaced by ChatGPT; CEO Matt Karch apologized for his earlier comments, saying he was 'triggered by certain later comments and shot first and thought second about how to respond.' The disclaimer states the main campaign is written by human writers, while AI is used for voice generation, some localisation, and optional Free Ride mode content.

Saber Interactive adds AI disclaimer to Rideshare on Steam; CEO Matt Karch apologies to former lead writer Karch says he was "triggered by certain later comments and shot first and thought second about how to respond" Saber Interactive has added an AI disclaimer to Rideshare Simulator's Steam page https://store.steampowered.com/app/2366590/Rideshare Stimulator/ following controversy over allegations the firm had dismissed a writer working on the game in favour of using AI-written copy. Here's the disclosure in full: The main campaign story, characters, and dialogue are written by a team of human writers. AI tools are used for voice generation and some localisation. The optional Free Ride mode includes AI-generated passenger missions and localised dialogue. Free Ride mode is separate from the main campaign and can be skipped by players who prefer to experience only human-written narrative content. The game also includes a mix of radio stations featuring human-made music and AI-generated music. Stations containing AI-generated music are clearly labeled as such in game." This update follows comments from Saber CEO Matt Karch https://www.gamesindustry.biz/saber-interactive-denies-replacing-writer-with-ai regarding writer Stella Sacco, who worked at Saber from July 2023 to July 2024, and stated she was removed from Rideshare midway through development and replaced with ChatGPT, while alleging other then-unannounced use of AI in the game's development. In response, Karch stated that Sacco was "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added that "in retrospect he would have been happy to replace her with AI." "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," Karch told This Week In Videogames https://thisweekinvideogames.com/news/saber-interactive-acknowledges-undisclosed-genai-use-in-rideshare-stimulator-denies-replacing-lead-writer-with-chatgpt/ . "We have already said we are using AI for certain parts of the game and will update the Steam page once we have finalised the feature set." "We look at our use of AI in this particular game, which will be a lower priced title, as a plus for consumers." In a BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/antlervel.vet post this weekend Sacco wrote that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." "I've been firm from the beginning that I was telling the truth; I think we can all now agree that it's been borne out. Matt expressed a desire to make it right with me; at this time I don't really know what that looks like for me, and I'll have to take some time to sit with it, but I do at least accept his apology." Karch separately posted a public comment on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7494353074019323904/?dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd comment%3A%287494417076263120896%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7494353074019323904%29&dashReplyUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd comment%3A%287494728204612558848%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7494353074019323904%29 . "I unfortunately got triggered by certain later comments for reasons I won't get into and shot first and thought second about how to respond," he wrote. "It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify."