Hideo Kojima says there’s only one way he’d use AI in games

Hideo Kojima said there is only one place artificial intelligence belongs in his games, and it has nothing to do with creating art.

The Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid creator has addressed AI several times in recent years, often stressing that human creators should remain in full control of ideas, storytelling, and artistic direction.

In earlier comments, Kojima described AI as a supportive tool that could assist with efficiency or repetitive tasks, while warning against its use in creative decision-making. That position has stayed consistent as generative AI tools become more common across the games industry.

Those views formed the backdrop for his latest comments, as developers and publishers continue to debate how AI should be used in game development. Kojima’s history of exploring technology and human agency in his work has made his stance particularly closely watched.

Kojima points to gameplay systems, not art

In a recent interview with CN N, Kojima explained that he has no interest in using AI to generate visuals or artistic content at Kojima Productions. Instead, he said the technology could be valuable in gameplay systems, specifically in how enemies respond to players.

Kojima said AI could help account for the fact that every player behaves differently, from movement and control habits to decision-making patterns. He explained that most enemies in games still rely on limited, predictable logic, which can make encounters feel artificial over time.

“By having AI compensate for those differences, the gameplay can gain more depth. And in most games, the enemies don’t behave very much like real humans. But by using AI, enemy behavior could change based on the player’s experience, actions and patterns. That kind of dynamic response would make much deeper gameplay possible,” Kojima said.

He framed this approach as a way to deepen gameplay without handing creative control to machines. The focus, he said, would remain on authored experiences, with AI operating in the background to adjust systems rather than generate content.