Kojima Slams AI Replacing Artists After DLSS 5 Hits Death Stranding 2

Ever wondered how your favorite game creators feel about AI creeping into their work? Hideo Kojima just made his stance crystal clear, and it's not exactly a love letter to the tech.

On the Koji10 podcast, the legendary designer opened up about his mixed feelings on AI, especially after Nvidia's DLSS 5 got tangled up with Death Stranding 2. "As a creator, I have mixed feelings about this technology," he said. He acknowledged that AI is great for bringing old photos to life or adding color, even suggesting we might stop doing remakes one day. But he also pointed out that people still restore old films in 4K by hand, and AI could do that easily.

However, Kojima isn't ready to hand over the keys to the creative kingdom. He explained that AI can't understand artistic intention, which seriously limits its use in his eyes. "As the person who made the original, I wouldn't want someone changing it too much," he stated. "There was a reason I chose a particular lighting setup. It would be different if AI understood those intentions." That's a pretty clear line in the sand from the man behind Metal Gear Solid.

When asked if he'd be okay with AI making changes on its own, Kojima didn't hold back: "I wouldn't like that. Unless I was controlling the AI in my own work, that may be different. I don't know, though." He did concede that AI will probably become standard to some extent, but that doesn't mean he has to like it. "Maybe AI will eventually do all that automatically," he said. "In a hundred years, the resolution may be even higher. But I don't much like the idea."

It's refreshing to hear a creator of his caliber take such a principled stance. With AI upscaling and generative tools becoming more common, there's a real fear that artistic vision could get lost in the shuffle. Kojima's perspective gives hope that some studios will still prioritize human creativity over algorithmic shortcuts.

As for what's next, Kojima confirmed that OD is "progressing smoothly" and teased it as a "completely new kind of game that tests the thresholds of fear." He also mentioned Physint, though details are scarce. Based on his comments, it's safe to say neither game will rely on AI to replace the human touch.

So, what do you think? Are you on team Kojima when it comes to AI in games, or do you see it as a necessary evil? Let us know in the comments!