iGamity
← All articles

AI Won't Replace Game Creators. It Will Redefine Them.

I
igamity
21 Aug 2026

An iGamity Talk with Mykhail Davydov, Co-founder & CEO of Spinorium

Artificial Intelligence has become one of the biggest talking points in game development. Every week introduces new models, smarter assistants, and faster workflows, sparking both excitement and uncertainty across the industry. Questions about disappearing jobs, automated studios, and AI-generated games dominate conversations, yet much of the discussion focuses on fear rather than opportunity.

For Mykhail Davydov, Co-founder and CEO of Spinorium, the future looks very different.

Rather than replacing creative professionals, he believes AI will raise expectations, accelerate production, and fundamentally reshape how studios build games. The companies that succeed won't necessarily have the largest teams or the biggest budgets. They will be the ones that learn to work with AI faster and more effectively than everyone else.

In this edition of iGamity Talks, Mykhail shares his perspective on the future of AI in iGaming, the skills that will matter most, and why creativity will become even more valuable in the years ahead.

AI Is Raising the Bar for Talent, Not Eliminating It

Whenever AI enters an industry, the first concern is usually about jobs.

Will developers disappear?

Will artists be replaced?

Will AI build games on its own?

Mykhail believes these questions miss the bigger picture.

Technical roles, particularly software engineering, are already experiencing significant changes because AI is becoming increasingly capable of assisting with programming tasks. However, this does not mean engineers will become obsolete.

Instead, the expectations placed on engineers will evolve.

Routine coding tasks will become increasingly automated, allowing technical professionals to spend more time solving complex problems, designing systems, and building better products.

In other words, AI will not eliminate engineers.

It will redefine what being a great engineer means.

Why Great Ideas Will Always Be the Most Valuable Role

As AI continues accelerating production, another shift becomes increasingly important.

If technology can build prototypes faster than ever before, what actually determines whether a game succeeds?

For Mykhail, the answer remains unchanged.

Game design.

Mathematics.

Player psychology.

These are the disciplines responsible for creating the feeling that encourages players to spin one more time.

Modern AI tools are already making it possible to prototype playable slot games with unprecedented speed. Looking ahead, Mykhail believes that within just a few years, a single person may be capable of creating a complete, high-quality slot game using AI-assisted workflows.

As production becomes easier, the value of original ideas increases.

Studios that understand player motivation, innovative mechanics, and engaging mathematical models will continue leading the market regardless of how advanced AI becomes. The ROI of Creativity

AI Will Create More Games Before It Creates Better Ones

One of the biggest debates surrounding AI is whether it will improve game quality or simply flood the market with new releases.

Mykhail believes the first impact will be quantity.

AI will dramatically increase the number of games being produced.

Average production quality is also likely to improve as AI assists artists, developers, and designers with faster iteration and more efficient workflows.

However, originality remains a uniquely human advantage.

Until Artificial General Intelligence becomes a practical reality, the quality of ideas will continue to depend on creative people rather than algorithms.

This creates an extraordinary opportunity for smaller studios.

For the next few years, success will belong to companies capable of testing ten ideas while competitors are still validating one.

The future winners may not have the biggest teams.

They will simply move faster. Biggest Slot Game Trends in 2026

Competitive Advantage Will Come From People, Not Tools

As AI becomes more accessible, many studios will eventually gain access to the same models and technologies.

At that point, software itself will no longer be the competitive advantage.

Human capital will.

The strongest studios will be those that invest in their people, educate their teams, and build cultures capable of adapting alongside rapidly changing technology.

AI proficiency itself becomes a skill.

Simply purchasing enterprise AI software does not transform a company into an AI-driven organization.

According to Mykhail's experience, meaningful AI adoption requires significant organizational learning, experimentation, and workflow redesign.

Companies often need months, or even years, before AI becomes deeply integrated into everyday production.

Studios that begin this journey today will have a significant advantage over those waiting for the technology to mature.

AI Is a Growth Engine, Not a Cost-Cutting Tool

One of the most common misconceptions about AI is that its primary purpose is reducing headcount.

Mykhail strongly disagrees.

While AI certainly improves productivity, viewing it purely as a replacement for employees limits its true potential.

Growing companies should use AI to create more.

  • Developers should ship more features.
  • HR teams should identify stronger talent faster.
  • Sales teams should reach more customers.
  • Marketing teams should deliver better campaigns.
  • Creative teams should experiment with more concepts.

Rather than shrinking organizations, AI creates opportunities to scale them.

Studios focused solely on replacing people may reduce costs in the short term, but they risk limiting innovation in the long run.

Creativity Will Become Even More Valuable

Another misconception is that AI reduces the importance of creativity.

Mykhail believes exactly the opposite.

Creative ideas remain the hardest thing to automate.

A unique mechanic, a memorable player experience, or an innovative game concept may quickly inspire competitors once released, especially in an AI-powered industry where replication becomes easier.

But nothing prevents truly creative studios from continuing to innovate.

The studios capable of consistently generating original ideas will continue defining industry standards.

As technology removes production barriers, creativity becomes the ultimate competitive advantage.

Why Studios Should Start Learning AI Before Everyone Else

Perhaps Mykhail's strongest message is also the simplest.

Don't wait.

Studios that begin integrating AI today will build experience, refine workflows, and develop internal expertise long before others fully adapt.

The goal isn't simply to use AI.

It is to reach a point where teams consistently produce higher-quality games faster and more efficiently than traditional production methods allow.

That transformation doesn't happen overnight.

It happens through continuous experimentation, education, and a willingness to rethink how games are built.

Final Thoughts

Mykhail Davydov's vision of AI is both practical and optimistic. He sees artificial intelligence not as a replacement for creative professionals, but as a powerful force that removes repetitive work, accelerates production, and raises expectations across the industry.

As AI becomes part of everyday game development, the studios that thrive will not necessarily be the largest or the wealthiest. They will be the ones that combine technology with exceptional people, bold ideas, and a culture of continuous learning.

In the years ahead, competitive advantage will not come from having access to AI.

It will come from knowing how to use it better than anyone else, while never losing sight of the creativity that makes great games worth playing.