Of the 500+ AI tools tested by a leading game dev tech provider, only ‘half a dozen’ help ‘in the right way’

April 10, 2026 - 01:51

The head of transformation at Keywords Studios, a leading global technical and creative services provider for the video game industry, has described the current state of artificial intelligence as being in a "chaos phase." This assessment follows an extensive internal review where the company tested over 500 different AI tools.

Despite the overwhelming volume of new applications and services flooding the market, the executive revealed that only about half a dozen were found to assist developers "in the right way." The evaluation focused on practical utility and seamless integration into complex game development pipelines, areas where most tools currently fall short.

The commentary highlights a significant gap between the hype surrounding generative AI and its practical, production-ready application in a professional studio environment. While acknowledging the transformative potential of the technology, the findings suggest that for now, developers are wading through a sea of prototypes and narrowly focused solutions. The industry is actively seeking tools that genuinely enhance creativity and efficiency without disrupting established workflows or compromising quality. This period of experimentation and filtering is seen as a necessary, if chaotic, step toward meaningful adoption.