Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has clarified the studio’s stance on the use of artificial intelligence in game development following the viral resurgence of his previous comments regarding generative technologies. Amidst a broader industry debate, Hino asserted that the company’s approach had been fundamentally misconstrued.
According to Hino, AI is already a staple within game studios, and the primary distinction lies in whether companies are willing to be transparent about its use. He emphasized that AI should be viewed as a functional tool rather than an inherently negative force. Addressing the common comparison between AI and intellectual property theft, he noted:
“AI is occasionally equated with plagiarism, but a knife can be used for culinary arts just as easily as it can be a weapon; similarly, computers can be used to build immersive worlds or to commit cybercrimes.”
Hino explained that the controversy surrounding Level-5 originated from comments about an unannounced project with an AI-centric theme. During an experimental phase, a programmer deliberately used AI to generate code, but those remarks were generalized by the public. He categorically denied claims that the studio uses AI to write 80–90% of its source code, noting that such a capability would represent an unprecedented and unlikely technological leap.
Nevertheless, Hino acknowledged that AI is already helping to streamline production and holds the potential to shorten game development cycles in the future. He also warned against the blanket perception of AI as an unethical instrument:
“Depending on how it is utilized, AI can certainly result in plagiarism, but when applied correctly, it has the capacity to significantly enrich the creative world.”
In closing, Hino stressed that AI should remain a tool in human hands rather than a substitute for original creative vision. He promised to provide a more detailed breakdown of Level-5’s philosophy in an upcoming studio blog post.
Source: iXBT.games