Shigeru Miyamoto, a pivotal figure behind iconic Nintendo franchises such as The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario, recently received Japan's prestigious Order of Culture award. In a press conference following the ceremony, the celebrated game designer shared his thoughts on a range of topics, including the burgeoning impact of artificial intelligence on creative fields.
Miyamoto drew a parallel between the current AI upheaval and the introduction of new tools during his own career. He recalled how the advent of computers and word processors, which automated tasks like typing and typesetting, shifted the focus in design. "Even just translating popular overseas designs into Japanese and laying them out was enough to be called a designer," Miyamoto explained, referencing an era before digital tools became ubiquitous. "However, as computers and word processors evolved, we could copy and paste text from anywhere, import images from anywhere, and even have them write neatly. It was only when these tools took over the technical aspects that a person's individual design ability, such as a sense of layout, began to come to the forefront."
He noted that this evolution highlighted latent creative talents, sometimes even within individuals who were not traditionally considered designers. "As a result, even if the husband was a designer and the wife did the housework, it often turned out that 'the wife actually had superior design abilities.' That's what it means for tools to change," he stated.
Applying this perspective to AI, Miyamoto acknowledged its potential to help people grasp the joy and power of creation. He has long advocated for lowering barriers to game development and play. However, he cautioned against over-reliance on AI's generative capabilities, particularly when creators might become too satisfied with the output without deep engagement.
"This is the tricky part; the work itself is enjoyable. When you're working, you get a tremendous sense of satisfaction from 'creating' something. But the scary thing is that you become so satisfied with the work that you mistakenly think, 'I've made something pretty good,'" Miyamoto said. He suggested that designs created purely through such means, akin to simple copy-pasting, may not endure.
Miyamoto expressed uncertainty about the future transformations AI might bring but maintained a hopeful outlook that human intention would remain central to creative endeavors. "I think there is still plenty we can do," he concluded.