Fears that Twitch could one day be dominated by AI streamers that put real content creators out of a job were dismissed by the platform’s CEO, Dan Clancy.
As AI video improves, there have been tons of viral clips featuring fake streamers playing video games and interacting with chat.
At the same time, AI influencers and models have emerged across Instagram, and many have tricked viewers into believing they’re real, amassing hundreds of thousands of followers in the process.
It’s not limited to just social media platforms, either. In Australia, radio listeners were duped into believing a host was a real person when she was actually AI-generated.
However, according to Twitch CEO Dan Clancy, viewers are far less likely to engage with a fake streamer when they know they’re generated through artificial intelligence, because nothing beats actual human interaction.
Twitch CEO says viewers are too “attached” to streamers to ditch them for AI creators
Speaking to Bloomberg, Clancy was asked how AI would change Twitch, but the site’s CEO wasn’t concerned that there would be any negative effects.
“I think fundamentally, this idea on Twitch, AI isn’t going to substitute for our creators. The emotional attachment that viewers have is with people, and that will always be the case,” he said.
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Sometimes, though, viewers can take that emotional attachment too far, as there have been a plethora of stalking and violent incidents involving fans and streamers over the years. In September, a Korean streamer was even murdered by a fan who had donated around $70,000 to her.
According to Clancy, AI will just be a “tool” for streamers to show off and express their creative sides, and do things they couldn’t do previously.
“People who couldn’t write a song, now they’re going to write a song or whatever it is. So, much like gaming, which gives a streamer stimulus to respond to and entertain. I think AI gives the streamers stimulus and tools that they can express and entertain.”
Meanwhile, Pokimane, who shared the panel with Clancy, said she prefers to avoid using AI for any creative endeavors, but that might change depending on how the technology advances.
“For now, I really try to use my own two hands,” she countered.
