Hideo Kojima told Nikkei Xtrend that AI is the next smartphone moment and that “there is no point in saying things like ‘We shouldn’t use AI’ or ‘AI is useless.'” The comments were picked up in a GamesRadar+ translation.
Kojima argued smartphones were once widely dismissed, yet they became central to daily life. He said AI looks similar in that it will change how people interact, and that it can help those who struggle with face-to-face communication. At the same time, Kojima warned AI could make humans “spoiled,” and suggested steps to limit its reach, including measures to “reduce the AI’s involvement, or have days where we don’t use it.”
His point was not that AI is all good or all bad, but that rejecting it outright is pointless now that the technology is here. That mirrors other industry debates about disclosure and moderation – a recent piece we ran covers Tim Sweeney asking stores not to tag games as made with AI and the questions that raises for developers and storefronts.
The comments land while discussion over AI in game development continues to flare up, including criticism aimed at studios using the tech for writing or art. Kojima’s framing places the conversation in cultural terms: technology that people once rejected can become indispensable, but it also requires choices about when and how to use it.
For now, Kojima seems to be calling for balance: accept AI’s presence, get practical about limits, and think about how it changes social habits rather than pretending you can stop it.
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