The use of AI in creative fields has been a thorny issue, and analysts predict that the growing presence of AI-generated content will drive people to seek more authentic, human-made content. Sony CEO and Oasis superfan Hiroki Totoki is one such person, as he believes that while AI can help “enhance” creativity, the human factor is what makes people gravitate toward film, music, and video games.
“AI cannot replace it. AI can enhance human creativity,” Totoki said to the Wall Street Journal. “It is really up to us. We take advantage of AI, or we face a threat from AI.”
While Totoki views AI as a tool, other creative figures in the video game industry have pushed back against it entirely. Celebrated Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu has said that while it’s possible for AI to help with transitions in game music between sounds, he’s not interested in using generative AI to create new music for games. “I think it still feels more rewarding to go through the hardships of creating something myself,” he said.
Prolific video game voice actor Troy Baker has also commented on the subject, saying that while AI can create content, it “cannot create art” because it lacks human experiences to draw from. Meanwhile, games like Mecha Chameleon are celebrated as an antithesis to AI slop, thanks to titles that emphasize and embrace human-crafted imperfections.
In Asian territories, the adoption of generative AI does appear to be growing. A survey conducted by the organization behind the Tokyo Game Show found that over 50% of Japanese video game developers are integrating AI into their production, while 50% of the developers who took part in a GDC survey believe that generative AI is hurting the video game industry.
When video game studios have revealed that they are using AI, the pushback has largely been negative. Examples include Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis developer Crystal Dynamics confirming that character designs–including Lara Croft herself–are 100% human-crafted while AI is used for early concept art and placeholder assets, and Sony said that it used machine-learning algorithms in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 as part of its tests to speed up game development.
