Level-5 CEO apologizes for using AI in digital showcase
The president and CEO of Level-5, Akihiro Hino, has confirmed that generative AI was utilized during the studio's recent digital showcase. The decision followed backlash from fans who spotted signs of AI-generated content in the presentation footage.
Responding to the criticism, Hino issued an apology, stating that the technology was used to make the event's visuals "more spectacular." He described the use of AI in the footage as an experiment intended to enhance the presentation's impact.
"It appears that some people felt uncomfortable about this, so I deeply apologise," Hino wrote on X. He added that the company is exploring AI as part of an effort to reduce development timelines from five years down to two.
While AI was used for the showcase's video content, the CEO insisted that the core creative elements of their games remain human-led. According to Level-5, scenarios, character designs, and fundamental settings are all created by hand. The studio aims to use AI primarily for digitizing creative work, such as accurately converting original artwork into polygons, rather than generating raw game assets.
Level-5 reassured fans that no simplistic AI-generated data is included in their actual game releases, including titles like Professor Layton, Decapolice, and Yo-Kai Watch. The company stated it will treat this experience as a lesson for future presentations.