Industry veterans are increasingly discussing AI.
In a recent interview with JASRAC magazine, Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu reflected on his career, the evolution of video game music, and its future. He singled out generative artificial intelligence in music, saying that “he has never used this technology and likely never will.”
Reflecting on the history of game music—a history he helped shape—Uematsu outlined its major milestones. During the NES era, compositions were built from simple melodies, chords, and basslines. As technology advanced, composers gained the ability to use samples, layer sounds, and create richer timbres. Yet, Uematsu argues, unlike game graphics which continue to progress rapidly, video game music may have already reached its peak.
On the subject of generative AI, which can produce music with only a few prompts, Uematsu voiced his skepticism.
I’ve never used AI and I probably never will. For me, composing music by hand is far more fulfilling. When you listen to a piece, part of the enjoyment comes from uncovering the story of the person who made it. AI has no such story. Even in live performances, human-created music is variable—each performer interprets it in their own way. Those fluctuations and imperfections are precisely what make it so captivating.
Source: iXBT.games