As Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 approaches release, Treyarch is once again facing questions over its use of generative AI. The issue first came to light during Black Ops 6, when fans spotted obvious AI-created assets – like the infamous six-fingered zombie Santa – that Activision initially denied before later admitting were produced with AI tools.
In a recent interview, Treyarch associate creative director Miles Leslie addressed the controversy head-on.
According to Leslie, AI is being used internally to speed up workflows, but not to replace developers. “Everything you play is human-created and touched,” he said, stressing that the role of AI is to streamline tasks, not to replace artists or designers. Leslie admitted that AI-generated work had made it into Black Ops 6, but called it accidental rather than intentional, promising stricter oversight going forward.
The problem, however, is that many of those AI artifacts remain in the game. Leslie deflected responsibility, saying that wasn’t his department but insisting that Activision is reviewing how such content slips through. For some fans, that explanation rings hollow. If the studio insists AI is only a support tool, why hasn’t the questionable content been removed?
The debate over AI in gaming is growing sharper. Some players see AI as a cost-cutting shortcut that dilutes creativity, accusing publishers of putting profit ahead of artistry. Others argue that AI is simply the latest tool in a long line of technological shifts, one that – if handled correctly – could free developers to focus on innovation. Still, the lingering mistrust over Black Ops 6’s AI controversies has left many wondering whether transparency, or even disclaimers, should be mandatory when AI assets appear in paid bundles.
Black Ops 7 will now have to prove it can deliver a human-driven experience without the baggage of sloppy AI mishaps. The bigger question is whether players will accept AI as part of the process – or continue to see it as another symbol of corporate cost-cutting in one of gaming’s biggest franchises.