xbox According to the company's new leadership, it will not mandate the use of AI or use it to replace human-made art. Fans were expecting big things to happen for the brand in 2026, when it celebrates its 25th anniversary, but the biggest news so far has surprised the gaming world. Xbox has a new leader and they want to reassure gamers about what's coming.
Microsoft caused quite a stir when former CEO Phil Spencer announced that he was retiring from Xbox after working for the company before the launch of the first Xbox. Xbox president Sarah Bond also announced she was resigning, sparking speculation about what's going on behind the scenes and what's next for the company. Many of these lingering questions may not receive firm answers until fans see them addressed in the future, but the new leadership team has responded to some of the most pressing concerns.
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Xbox's new execs say the company has “no guidance on AI”
In an interview with Windows Central, newly appointed CEO Asha Sharma and CCO Matt Booty emphasized that AI will only be a tool for Xbox developers and not a replacement for artists. Sharma's official statement since taking over as Xbox CEO has already addressed this issue, stating that the company will not overemphasize short-term efficiency gains in technology at the expense of high-quality content. Now she's doubled down on that view, comparing AI to previous innovations in game development like motion capture, reassuring fans that “we're not going to have careless consequences.” Booty echoed these sentiments, adding that Xbox is “committed to human-made art” and that Microsoft is not mandating or pushing to increase the use of AI in any form.
The note that there is no pressure to increase use of AI is likely a reference to other gaming companies recently meeting such obligations. In late 2025, EA was reportedly forcing its employees to use AI to frustrate developers. While some industry insiders have praised the potential of AI as a way to save time and allow artists to focus on what they enjoy most, others have expressed fears of job losses and concerns about the quality of AI-generated output. Booty and Sharma seemed to fall somewhere in the middle, noting that AI is a valuable way to achieve more and raise the bar for game quality as development becomes more specialized, while emphasizing the importance of keeping humans at the core of this work.
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The use of AI is growing across the industry, but Xbox's new leaders are coming under special scrutiny on the topic. Before becoming Xbox CEO, Sharma served as President of CoreAI Products at Microsoft. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella thought AI could generate entire games in the future, but Sharma and Booty appear to be pushing back against that idea in their recent statements on the matter. While they don't seem to be anti-AI in any way – both express high hopes for what it can do in development – these new comments about the importance of human artists and developers will likely provide some relief to fans worried about AI in Xbox games.
Xbox's new leaders cited fan concerns more than the company's use of AI. The executive also stated that Xbox is committed to its games and expressed its intention to return to the brand's roots, especially as it relates to consoles. Only time will tell how these promises are fulfilled, or whether Xbox will live up to these statements in the future. But for now, it appears that Booty and Sharma understand their audience's concerns and have provided a breath of fresh air for some Xbox fans.
Source: Windows Central
