CD Projekt RED, the studio behind The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2, has revealed new details about its internal AI research efforts. In a newly released management report, the company confirmed it is actively testing AI tools to help shape its future game development.
The report outlined how AI is being tested across multiple areas including creation of realistic NPCs. According to the report, throughout 2025 the studio’s AI research team focused on evaluating both existing AI-based tools and custom-built solutions.
AI tools are tested to find ways to support development processes such as prototyping, testing, and notably generating lifelike crows of NPCs. These characters are the heart and soul of open world games like The Witcher and Cyberpunk.
The company noted that some of these AI initiatives have already progressed beyond theory, moving into testing and early-stage implementation.
Some of the ongoing initiatives progressed to testing and preliminary utilization. In parallel, the team performed a review and consolidation of research projects, which resulted in new initiatives focusing on the most promising directions of work. The AI team is currently pursuing approximately a dozen research projects.
On paper, AI can help create crowds that behave in a more realistic manner, boosting immersion and realism. It could be a major leap forward for open-world games like The Witcher 4. More dynamic, responsive crowds could make cities feel alive in ways that scripted systems struggle to achieve. Could be a gamechanger for studios that build dense, narrative-driven worlds.
However, the announcement arrives at a time when the broader gaming community remains deeply skeptical about the growing role of AI in game development.
Across forums and social media, most players have voiced concerns that AI tools could be used to replace human creativity rather than support it. While CD Projekt RED’s management report frames AI as a tool for prototyping and testing, concerns will remain around AI reducing opportunities for artists, designers, and writers.
AI has a PR problem which has led to a trust issue. In recent years, the AI industry has seen backlash across the board. Terms like “Microslop” and “AI Slop” are now powerful enough to kill projects.
For CD Projekt RED specifically, scrutiny tends to be even higher. The studio is still working to maintain player confidence following the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077, and any shift in development philosophy is likely to be closely examined by its audience.
That said, not all sentiment around AI is negative. There are practical benefits of using AI for background systems like crowds, where scale and repetition can limit what the developers can realistically do by hand.
Importantly, the company’s report does not suggest a wholesale shift to AI-driven development. Instead, it frames the technology as an experimental and supplementary tool.
