Hideo Kojima does not see artificial intelligence as a threat to game development

Hideo Kojima, the famous creator of Metal Gear and Death Stranding games, recently introduced artificial intelligence not as a threat to human creativity but as a valuable partner in the game development process.

Hideo Kojima’s view on artificial intelligence

In an interview with Wired Japan, he explained that unlike many industry players who use AI to generate ideas, he sees it as a tool to increase efficiency and free up creative time for humans. Kojima said:

“A lot of people use AI to create ideas, but I see it more as a friend. “Since I’ve been in the digital industry, I drive the creative side myself and use AI to improve productivity.”

According to reports, his approach to using artificial intelligence is focused on performing time-consuming and repetitive tasks such as animation, motion capture and content creation for non-playable characters (NPC), so that humans can keep their focus on the creative parts. Kojima says:

“I want artificial intelligence to take over repetitive and time-consuming tasks so that both costs are reduced and production time is reduced. Instead of just using artificial intelligence, we should create more with his help. “In the future, I will be one step ahead and create works with artificial intelligence.”

In Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima Productions used machine learning to create digital models of actors like Elle Fanning and Kotsuna Shiori. Despite widespread praise for the visual quality, Kojima calls the result only “good” and is looking to improve realism in future projects like OD and Physint.

Kojima’s vision contrasts with the tendency of some companies to completely automate tasks, seeing AI as a tool to improve productivity and reduce costs, not a replacement for humans. Today, many companies such as Activision, Level-5, and Capcom use artificial intelligence to develop game engines, produce visual elements, generate text, and assist in programming, and the presence of artificial intelligence in the game industry has increased dramatically.

In addition to the exploitation of artificial intelligence, Kojima is also interested in innovations beyond the game. He’s partnered with Niantic Spatial to create an augmented reality experience inspired by Death Stranding, and has live-action and animated film projects on the agenda. Kojima’s approach presents artificial intelligence as a creative partner that will not interfere with human innovation and creativity.