Level-5 Boss: GenAI Is a Tool, Like a Knife in Game Dev
▼ Summary
– In June, Level-5’s CEO acknowledged exploring Generative AI for communication and efficiency, but his view became more positive by year’s end.
– He clarified a major misunderstanding, stating the company is not using AI to write 80% of its game code, but was referencing an unreleased AI-themed title.
– Hino suggests that if AI could successfully generate most of a game’s code, it would be impressive and shift development timelines from 5-10 years to potentially every two years.
– He directly addresses copyright concerns, arguing AI is a tool like any other that can be misused for plagiarism or properly used to enrich creativity.
– Hino expresses hope that AI will be recognized as a creative tool and not stigmatized as evil, to avoid hindering technological advancement in gaming.
The conversation around generative AI in game development continues to evolve, with industry leaders offering nuanced perspectives on its role as a powerful tool. Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has recently expanded on his earlier comments, framing AI not as a replacement for human creativity but as an instrument that can dramatically accelerate production. His stance has shifted from cautious exploration to a more optimistic view of its potential to reshape development timelines and creative possibilities.
Earlier this year, Hino acknowledged his company was investigating AI for improving communication and efficiency. By year’s end, his position clarified in response to online debates. He specifically corrected a widespread misunderstanding, noting that reports of Level-5 using AI to write 80% of a game’s code were inaccurate. The confusion stemmed from a discussion about a single, unreleased title with an AI theme, where programmers are experimentally using AI for some coding tasks. Hino remarked that if a team could successfully create 90% of a game’s code with AI, it would be a monumental achievement celebrated within the tech community, a feat not yet realized.
Hino admits the technology hasn’t reached that advanced stage, but he emphasizes the undeniable time-saving benefits it already provides. He believes these efficiencies could fundamentally change standard practices, potentially reducing the development cycle for major AAA titles from a decade to just a couple of years. This acceleration could allow players to enjoy high-quality games far more frequently without sacrificing scale or ambition.
Addressing the elephant in the room, Hino directly confronts concerns about copyright and plagiarism, issues often synonymous with AI in public discourse. He employs a simple analogy to illustrate his point: a knife can prepare a meal or become a weapon; a computer can build a virtual world or facilitate a crime. Similarly, AI can generate plagiarized content if misused, but when applied ethically, it holds immense power to expand and enrich creative fields.
His hope is that the industry and its audience will view AI as a tool in the creator’s kit, rather than labeling its use as inherently unethical. He worries that a blanket condemnation could stifle technological progress and prevent the gaming world from achieving new creative heights. Hino expresses a personal desire to see and help create groundbreaking, dreamlike games that surpass today’s standards, suggesting that responsible AI integration could be a key to reaching those goals.
This perspective arrives amid significant consumer skepticism. Recent surveys indicate a majority of players would be concerned if developers used AI in any part of the pipeline, with a substantial portion expressing strong disappointment if beloved companies adopted the technology. The divide between developer potential and player perception remains a significant hurdle for the industry to navigate.
(Source: Nintendo Life)
