Sakurai says he does not use generative AI in game development
The Kirby and Super Smash Bros. designer told Famitsu that generative AI "has yet to gain my trust", but warned against rejecting it outright.
Game designer Masahiro Sakurai said he does not currently use generative AI in game development and has not used it to make games, speaking to the Japanese magazine Famitsu at an event marking the release of his book Masahiro Sakurai's Thoughts on Games. According to Famitsu, Sakurai said generative AI "has yet to gain my trust".
He also set a condition on visual uses of the technology, saying it "must not amount to exploitation of any kind".
Sakurai said that for now, better results come from generating ideas himself, and described his approach to AI as slow-paced.
He cautioned against ignoring the technology altogether, arguing that doing nothing about generative AI is probably not the right approach.
Sakurai is known as the designer behind several Kirby titles and the Super Smash Bros. series. Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto has previously been sceptical of generative AI's capabilities, particularly in the creative and art-driven parts of game development.
Quick answers
Does Masahiro Sakurai use generative AI to make games?
No. Sakurai told Famitsu he has not used generative AI to make games and is not currently using it, saying it "has yet to gain my trust".
What book is Masahiro Sakurai promoting?
He spoke at an event marking the release of his book Masahiro Sakurai's Thoughts on Games.