Hideo Kojima, renowned for his work on the Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding series, has voiced his lack of interest in artificial intelligence, stating he does not anticipate AI generating genuine art within his lifetime. This sentiment comes after Kojima's participation in an AI-generated Prada advertisement, an endeavor that reportedly received widespread criticism. In a conversation with The Washington Post, Kojima remarked, "Art is life. But in 50 years, 100 years, I don’t know. Maybe AI could create art, but while I live, I don’t think I’ll see it. I'm not interested in it."
His collaborator on the Prada ad, director Nicolas Winding Refn, offered a more concerned perspective on the rapid advancements, noting, "It’s a terrifying time we live in because everything is so uncertain. But then, life has always been uncertain. The gasoline that keeps your creativity going is uncertainty, because it makes you always have to innovate. Re-create yourself. Re-create the future."
While some speculate Kojima's stance may stem from the negative reception to the AI ad, the article suggests his disinterest might be more fundamental, tied to a recognition that current AI lacks the capacity for true artistry. The report contrasts this with Kojima's previous acceptance of criticism regarding a trip to Saudi Arabia during his Death Stranding 2 promotional tour, a country often scrutinized for its human rights record and use of entertainment for reputational management.
Kojima places the responsibility of navigating AI's role in creative fields on younger generations. "We’ll find a good way, a good path to how we use technology," he stated, "and it’s really up to young people on how we use it." The implication is that future applications should ideally move beyond mere commercial exploitation of celebrity images.