Macmillan Publisher Discards AI Assistant After Staff Find It Unhelpful

Macmillan Publishing has reportedly held a farewell party for its AI workplace assistant, NOA (or “No Ordinary Assistant”), which staff found to be unhelpful. This development comes as the publishing industry grapples with the increasing presence and impact of artificial intelligence.

In contrast to Macmillan's experience, a solo developer has successfully shipped a real-time multiplayer 3D game using AI tools for coding and asset creation. The game, Voltane, is now in open beta, with AI assisting in writing and debugging code, creating 3D models, and generating sound effects and music. This demonstrates AI's growing capabilities in creative fields, highlighting the varied success rates of AI implementations.

Meanwhile, the broader discussion around AI in professional settings continues. One individual claims AI agents have automated about 70% of their job, attributing their success to a proactive approach to learning and skill development with AI tools. However, concerns persist within industries like gaming, with Valve responding to developers' fears about AI-generated "slop" and clones.