Konami CEO: Generative AI Is a Tool, Creators Still Essential

Hideki Hayakawa, CEO of Konami Digital Entertainment, said generative AI is only a tool and that people and creators remain the most important factor in making fun and innovative games, according to Konami Group's integrated report cited by ZDNet Korea.

Hayakawa said generative AI lowers production barriers but does not fundamentally change the market. He noted that the market entry barrier was already lowered by advanced general-purpose game engines and the spread of user-generated content.

Konami positions AI as a tool and an opportunity for creating new game experiences rather than a threat to the industry. The company has established and operates a dedicated department to research new technologies such as AI immediately.

The company has already put the approach into its products. In December of last year, eFootball received an update adding an 'analyst' feature that uses AI to analyze player statistics and match data and suggest tailored tactics.

Konami said it plans to expand features using new technology, including training tools to help players improve. The football title has surpassed 1 billion cumulative downloads worldwide.