Nintendo representatives have just denied accusations that the company is lobbying against the use of generative AI with the Japanese government. Earlier this week, Japanese House of Representatives member Satoshi Asano took to social media to accuse Nintendo of “engaging in lobbying activities with the government” over the increased use of generative AI in the gaming industry.
These claims prompted Nintendo to make a statement on Twitter early in the morning on October 5, stating that the company has not been in contact with the Japanese government over the issue of generative AI. Nintendo also stated that it will continue to take action to guard against infringement of its intellectual property rights, regardless if AI is involved.
Nintendo Denys Lobbying Against AI
Japanese Representative Satoshi Asano Has Retracted His Accusations
Satoshi Asano would eventually retract his previous accusations in a Twitter post of his own, saying that he regrets failing to verify the information that led to him claiming that Nintendo was lobbying with the Japanese government. He has also deleted his original post making these accusations, and has promised to take this incident as “a lesson” for the future.
Part of Asano’s reasoning for his claims against Nintendo was that the company seems to be avoiding using generative AI to protect its many intellectual properties like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. Nintendo has historically been very protective of these properties, as evidenced by its ongoing lawsuit against the developers of Palworld over its similarities to Pokemon.
Nintendo Isn’t Planning To Use Generative AI
In 2024, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa voiced his own concern about how generative AI would lead to issues with intellectual property rights, as it wouldn’t be clear who rightfully owns the generated image. He also stated that Nintendo has no plans to use generative AI in any of its own projects for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, soon-to-be-retiring Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser also spoke about generative AI earlier this year, saying that his company is always thinking about how such technology could be implemented in the future. He also stressed that Nintendo games will always prioritize artistic expression and the “human touch” in their development.
Generative AI remains a hot-button topic across all artistic mediums, with the latest GDC State of the Game Industry survey revealing that 84% of game developers are concerned with how the technology will be used in the future. Companies like Square Enix have already come under fire for using and endorsing generative AI over the past few years.
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September 23, 1889
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Satoru Iwata
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