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AI Automation Index
Will AI Replace Video Game Designers?
Task-level automation exposure for Video Game Designers: 24 O*NET tasks scored against their work activities, plus the simulator.
E-E-A-T Verified
Developed & audited by Gini Loh Automation Exposure
63%
weighted task index
24 of 24 tasks scored
Median Salary
$104,000 / year
BLS OEWS, May 2025 — this exact occupation
Employment Level
High
113,330 people hold this job — size, not growth
Projected 2025–35
+6.0%
employment change
8,300 openings a year · BLS line item
Pay by state
BLS OEWS publishes 48 state estimates for this occupation. Each is its own survey estimate, not the national median adjusted for local prices.
$31,200 – $136,110
Highest medians
California $136,110
Washington $130,480
New York $120,990
Massachusetts $113,540
New Hampshire $111,150
Lowest medians
Guam $31,200
Mississippi $48,550
Puerto Rico $48,700
Alabama $51,860
New Mexico $53,300
State figures come from the 15-1255 row in the May 2025 state panel. States where the estimate was suppressed or too small to publish are absent.
What the score is made of
Each task is mapped to its work activities, scored for AI automation potential, and weighted by how important those activities are to the job. These are the components.
Automation potential 63%
Importance-weighted mean of the scored tasks. This is the headline index.
Physical work 0%
Share of weighted tasks in hands-on or machine-operating work activities.
Judgment & influence 51%
Share in analysis, decisions, teaching, directing, advising, or caring for others.
Routine administration 9%
Share in documenting, recording, and administrative activities.
Rewritten by O*NET 0%
Share of weighted tasks O*NET rewrote in a recent update. Reported, not folded into the score.
Consequence of error 5/100
Low
O*NET's own rating of how serious an uncorrectable mistake would be here — respondents, not us. Deliberately not in the index: the score measures what AI can do with the task content, and multiplying it by stakes would be our judgment dressed as data.
Constituent Task Mix
24 tasks for this occupation, weighted by work-activity importance. Shares below are of total task weight, not task count.
High exposure (≥ 60% of the task is automatable) 56%
14 tasks
Medium exposure (≥ 35%) 44%
10 tasks
Low exposure (below 35%) 0%
0 tasks
How would you survive?
Move your week away from the high-exposure tasks and toward the ones that need judgment. The simulator recalculates the index as you shift the mix.
Simulate Upskilling →Constituent Tasks
#16199 · Core · 50% automatable
Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
decision support — Game design creativity and playtesting remain human-led
Design video game features or details.
#16208 · Core · 50% automatable
Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
decision support — Game design creativity and playtesting remain human-led
Design video game features or details.
#16217 · Core · 50% automatable
Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
decision support — Game design creativity and playtesting remain human-led
Design video game features or details.
#16201 · Core · 55% automatable
Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
interpersonal — Collaborative spec-setting requires human negotiation
Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
#16214 · Core · 72% automatable
Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
data analysis — AI can run and analyze software performance tests
Test software performance.
#16209 · Core · 65% automatable
Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
text generation — Draft procedure docs from described process
Design video game features or details. Document design or development procedures.
#16216 · Core · 80% automatable
Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.
text generation — Draft procedure docs from described process
Document design or development procedures.
#16198 · Core · 68% automatable
Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
text generation — Drafting project updates is AI-assisted; delivery is human
Communicate project information to others.
#16212 · Core · 59% automatable
Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.
text generation — Organize and check documentation accuracy largely automatable
Manage documentation to ensure organization or accuracy. Manage information technology projects or system activities.
#16202 · Core · 68% automatable
Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design.
text generation — Drafting project updates is AI-assisted; delivery is human
Communicate project information to others.
#16211 · Core · 72% automatable
Create gameplay prototypes for presentation to creative and technical staff and management.
visual inspection — Creates data graphics; accuracy and design review human
Prepare graphics or other visual representations of information.
#16207 · Core · 55% automatable
Guide design discussions between development teams.
interpersonal — Collaborative spec-setting requires human negotiation
Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
#16206 · Core · 72% automatable
Oversee gameplay testing to ensure intended gaming experience and game adherence to original vision.
data analysis — AI can run and analyze software performance tests
Test software performance.
#16204 · Core · 68% automatable
Present new game design concepts to management and technical colleagues, including artists, animators, and programmers.
text generation — Drafting project updates is AI-assisted; delivery is human
Communicate project information to others.
#16203 · Core · 72% automatable
Prepare two-dimensional concept layouts or three-dimensional mock-ups.
visual inspection — Creates data graphics; accuracy and design review human
Prepare graphics or other visual representations of information.
#16196 · Core · 80% automatable
Keep abreast of game design technology and techniques, industry trends, or audience interests, reactions, and needs by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.
information retrieval — AI scans trend sources; human weighs relevance
Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends.
#16194 · Core · 75% automatable
Review or evaluate competitive products, film, music, television, and other art forms to generate new game design ideas.
data analysis — Customer data analysis; human frames questions
Analyze market or customer related data.
#16215 · Core · 55% automatable
Collaborate with artists to achieve appropriate visual style.
interpersonal — Collaborative spec-setting requires human negotiation
Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
#16200 · Core · 41% automatable
Write or supervise the writing of game text and dialogue.
decision support — Game design creativity and playtesting remain human-led
Design video game features or details. Supervise information technology personnel.
#16213 · Core · 55% automatable
Consult with multiple stakeholders to define requirements and implement online features.
interpersonal — Collaborative spec-setting requires human negotiation
Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
#16210 · Core · 50% automatable
Determine supplementary virtual features, such as currency, item catalog, menu design, and audio direction.
decision support — Game design creativity and playtesting remain human-led
Design video game features or details.
#16205 · Core · 72% automatable
Prepare and revise initial game sketches using two- and three-dimensional graphical design software.
visual inspection — Creates data graphics; accuracy and design review human
Prepare graphics or other visual representations of information.
#16197 · Core · 65% automatable
Create gameplay test plans for internal and external test groups.
text generation — AI drafts testing routines; engineer verifies coverage
Develop testing routines or procedures.
#16195 · Core · 68% automatable
Provide test specifications to quality assurance staff.
text generation — Drafting project updates is AI-assisted; delivery is human
Communicate project information to others.
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How this was scored
- 1. Tasks. O*NET task statements for this occupation, from a release whose newest record is dated 08/2026.
- 2. Work activities. Each task maps to 1–5 Detailed Work Activities; each activity belongs to one of 41 Generalized Work Activities that O*NET rates for importance (1–5) in this occupation.
- 3. Automation potential. Every work activity carries one score for how far current AI can perform it end-to-end. Tasks inherit the mean of their activities.
- 4. Weighting. Task weight = 0.35 + 0.65 × (importance − 1)/4, scaled by how often the task is performed and by 0.7 for Supplemental tasks. Importance is the task's own O*NET rating where it exists (18,369 of 18,838 tasks); the rest inherit their work activities' importance. The index is the weighted mean.
Check: across the 910 occupations where O*NET also rates how far machine speed sets the pace, this index moves opposite to it (Spearman ρ = -0.49). The more a job is paced by equipment, the less of its task content AI can address — the relationship you would expect if the scoring is working.
Sources · O*NET 31.0 (task records to 08/2026) · BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS projections 2025-2035 · rubric v2.1 · tasks for O*NET, not a forecast
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