Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto weighs in on AI, says “there will always be a role” for humans
Posted on October 23, 2026 by Brian(@NE_Brian)
in General Nintendo, News
Another prominent developer has weighed in on AI – and this time we get to hear from Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto.
Miyamoto just became the first developer to win Japan’s Order of Culture award. A conference was held to celebrate the news, and members of the press were able to ask a slew of questions.
Miyamoto was asked about the advancement of generative AI lowering the barrier to creation as well as his thoughts on it in general and games as a culture. In response, he shared the following (thanks VGC):
“Our generation lived through a period of rapid computer development – a time when tools were constantly evolving, moving from typewriters to word processors. In the past, for instance, designers were taught in school how to create beautiful lettering for posters; possessing that skill alone was enough to be called a ‘designer.’ Alternatively, one could simply take a design that was trending abroad, give it a ‘Japanese-style’ twist, and be labeled a designer.”
However, as computers and technology advanced, a designer’s true individual capabilities, such as their innate sense of layout, finally came to the fore. I believe generative AI represents a similar shift.
We distinguish between ‘creating’ something and the ‘labor’ involved in the process. When you set out to create, you first establish a broad structure, then begin the hands-on work: the tasks that follow, such as filling in gaps or refining the details.
The tricky part is that this labor can actually be quite enjoyable. While the act of creation is inherently satisfying, there’s a danger: one might find satisfaction in the labor itself and mistakenly believe that a high-quality piece of work has been created,” he said. “In that sense, the more AI replaces these tasks, the more it provides an opportunity to reflect on what’s really important, which I think is a positive thing.
Looking back at past designs, there are some that were created merely by copying and pasting. Yet, such work rarely stands the test of time; it lacks the individual’s particular design intention. Because the process relies on an individual’s intent, with the computer serving as an assistant for the labor, I believe that even as technology continues to evolve, and even if AI were to eventually handle everything, there will always be a role left for us to play.”
Earlier this week, Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai shared his thoughts on AI.
