310. Pim De Witte on Turning Down $500 Million from OpenAI... Then Raising $134M.

Deconstructor of Fun

Pim De Witte, founder of General Intuition and Medal.tv, turned down a deal reportedly worth $500 million from OpenAI, and instead raised $134 million to build an AI lab rooted in games, not words.In this conversation, Michail Katkoff (Deconstructor of Fun) dives deep into:1) How world models could replace game engines2) Why games are the best simulation layer for developing intelligence3) What “AI-native” really means for future studios4) And the paradox of ther AI bubble

00:00The Decision to Walk Away from OpenAI

02:24Building for the Games Industry

05:24The Future of Game Development and AI

08:06 Understanding World Models and Their Impact

10:38 Talent Acquisition in AI and Gaming

13:17 Strategic Risks of AI Integration

16:11 The Role of AI in Game Design

18:52 Navigating the Future of Game Engines

26:31 The Future of Game Distribution and Economics

30:06 Generative Systems in Game Design

36:29 The Role of Game Designers in AI

40:18 AI Integration in Game Studios

52:02 AI's Impact on the Economy and Employment