Congressman Ro Khanna Takes Aim at Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s AI Art Controversy

US Congressman Ro Khanna isn’t mincing words: He’s calling out Activision Blizzard’s use of AI in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and demanding federal action. Responding to a viral post that raised alarms about the game’s AI-generated calling cards, Khanna jumped on social media to say what plenty of game developers have only whispered; AI is starting to replace real jobs, and it needs guardrails.

He spelled it out: “We need regulations that prevent companies from using AI to eliminate jobs to extract greater profits. Artists at these companies need to have a say in how AI is deployed. They should share in the profits. And there should be a tax on mass displacement.”

Call of Duty’s AI Gamble Faces Backlash

Activision hasn’t been shy about its tech. In a statement last week, the company insisted, “Like so many around the world, we use a variety of digital tools, including AI tools, to empower and support our teams to create the best gaming experiences possible for our players. Our creative process continues to be led by the talented individuals in our studios.”

But that’s done little to calm the storm. Players and fans spotted what looked like obvious examples of AI-generated imagery in Black Ops 7’s new calling cards, sparking a fresh round of criticism. Skeptics say it’s not just about tools; it’s about the people behind them, and whether they still have a future in the industry.

The outrage didn’t stop with cosmetics. Even the game’s campaign has been called out for what some believe is an overreliance on generative image software. For a community used to scrutinizing every graphical change, these things don’t go unnoticed, and the reception has been cold.

AI’s Grip Tightens on the Games Industry

Ro Khanna’s warnings aren’t new. He was pushing for broad AI regulations as far back as January 2024, before the debate hit Call of Duty’s front lines. Back then, he pressed Congress to step in as generative AI began spreading across the tech sector, drawing billions in investment and reshaping how things get made.

Video gaming is now a high-profile battleground. Square Enix, a giant in the field, openly admitted it plans to replace 70 percent of its QA work with generative AI. At the Tokyo Game Show, a survey found over half of Japanese developers were already using AI in some capacity. Western companies aren’t sitting out, either. Embracer’s CEO recently talked about “leveraging AI” as a business strategy, and Microsoft keeps stressing the tech’s importance for future projects.

For artists and designers, the writing’s on the wall. Whole fields of work are now in flux, as top publishers and studios test how far they can push AI-generated visuals and labor-saving tools without alienating their fanbase, or their employees.

Activision’s public stance boils down to this: AI supports the creative process, but doesn’t replace the people driving it. Ro Khanna’s response? That’s not enough. He wants workers, especially the artists and devs now living with “tools” that might one day supplant them, to have leverage, a share of the profits, and new legal safeguards. And he wants a simple economic backstop: Tax the profits of any company caught displacing workers at scale with automation.

Black Ops 7: Good Fun or a Sign of the Times?

Even with all the drama, the game itself is still making headlines. According to Eurogamer’s review, Black Ops 7 steers Call of Duty away from its single-player roots and lands as “its most lopsided and homogenous entry in decades.” Still, reviewer Jeremy Peel makes it clear: there’s a good time to be had for anyone willing to embrace what Black Ops 7 does differently, rough AI edges and all.

The bigger takeaway? The war over AI in gaming is only heating up, and if Ro Khanna and the thousands of fans speaking up are any indication, Activision and its rivals should expect even more scrutiny on how, why, and whose work fills those digital worlds.