adminThe Rideshare Simulator AI disclaimer now on the game’s Steam page clarifies how artificial intelligence will be used in different parts of the experience. The update follows a dispute involving Saber Interactive, former lead writer Stella Sacco, and CEO Matt Karch over the game’s development.
Image credit: Saber Interactive
What the Rideshare Simulator AI disclaimer says
The notice separates the main campaign from optional content and identifies where AI-generated material may appear. According to the disclosure:
The main campaign story, characters, and dialogue are written by a team of human writers. AI tools are used for voice generation and some localisation.
The optional Free Ride mode includes AI-generated passenger missions and localised dialogue. Free Ride mode is separate from the main campaign and can be skipped by players who prefer to experience only human-written narrative content.
The game also includes a mix of radio stations featuring human-made music and AI-generated music. Stations containing AI-generated music are clearly labeled as such in game.
For players deciding which parts of the game they want to experience, the distinction is practical: the disclosure says Free Ride can be skipped, while the main campaign’s story, characters, and dialogue are written by human writers. The notice also says AI-generated music stations will be identified in the game.
How the dispute over the game developed
Sacco worked at Saber from July 2023 to July 2024. She said she was removed from Rideshare midway through development and replaced with ChatGPT, and raised concerns about other uses of AI that had not yet been announced.
Karch responded that Sacco had been replaced by another writer and later terminated for several reasons. He also said that, in hindsight, he would have been willing to replace her with AI. In comments about the game, he described the use of AI in a lower-priced title as a benefit for consumers and said the Steam page would be updated after the feature set was finalised.
Sacco later wrote that Karch had apologised without reservation for the way he had spoken about her publicly. She said she accepted the apology but needed time to consider what, if anything, would make matters right. Karch also posted publicly that he had reacted too quickly to later comments and had tried to address the harm caused by his response.
What players should check before playing
The disclosure offers a guide to the game’s stated content, but it does not describe every implementation detail. Players who prefer human-written narrative can use the notice to distinguish the main campaign from Free Ride. Those interested in how AI-generated audio and music are presented can also check the in-game labels when the title is available.
Overall, the Rideshare Simulator AI disclaimer identifies which elements are described as human-written and where AI-generated content is planned. It also gives players a clear way to avoid the optional Free Ride missions if they want to focus on the main campaign.
