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Media & Arts·P Space·Evidence-backed problem·Published 2026-08-18

Saber’s CEO apologized to former Rideshare “Stimulator” writer Stella Sacco.

Abstract: After saying to This Week in Videogames that he would have been “happy to replace her with AI,” Sacco says CEO Matthew Karch emailed her and “apologized unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press.” You can read her full statement below. Sacco, a former lead writer on the recently-announced Rideshare “Stimulator”, had claimed that “Saber replaced me with ChatGPT midway through development.” CEO Matthew Karch denied that Saber “replaced any writers with AI.” The game uses AI for voices, music, a…

TRV-2026-0814JournalismPermanent record — cite & verify
Saber’s CEO apologized to former Rideshare “Stimulator” writer Stella Sacco.
The quick read

On August 17, 2026, The Verge reported that Saber CEO Matthew Karch apologized to former Rideshare 'Stimulator' lead writer Stella Sacco after telling This Week in Videogames he would have been 'happy to replace her with AI.' Sacco had claimed Saber replaced her with ChatGPT midway through development, a claim Karch denied, while the game's Steam page states it uses AI for voices, music, and missions.

The incident matters because it illustrates how generative AI is being deployed in commercial game production and how that deployment is perceived by creative workers as direct displacement. What remains uncertain is whether any writing replacement actually occurred, given the directly conflicting statements and lack of independent verification in the supplied text.

Main points
  • Former lead writer Stella Sacco claimed Saber replaced her with ChatGPT midway through development of Rideshare 'Stimulator'.
  • CEO Matthew Karch told This Week in Videogames he would have been 'happy to replace her with AI' and later emailed an apology.
  • Karch denied that Saber 'replaced any writers with AI' while the game's Steam page lists AI use for voices, music, and missions.
Problem

Former lead writer Stella Sacco alleges she was replaced by ChatGPT midway through development, after the CEO said he would be happy to replace her with AI.

The rundown

Stella Sacco was former lead writer on the recently-announced Rideshare 'Stimulator' and publicly claimed replacement by ChatGPT during development.

CEO Matthew Karch responded in press comments to This Week in Videogames, then emailed Sacco that he 'apologized unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press' according to her account.

As of the August 17, 2026 report, the game's recently-updated Steam page discloses AI use for voices, music, and missions, while Karch denies replacing any writers with AI.

Sources

Reader signal

How should this claim be treated?

The debate