Ken Kutaragi, the visionary behind the PlayStation, took part in the launch event for CEREC, a cutting-edge academic hub dedicated to game studies, held at Japan’s University of Electro-Communications on September 29. In a subsequent chat with 4Gamer, Kutaragi delved into the impact of generative AI and his views on how this swiftly advancing technology will reshape the gaming landscape.
Kutaragi views the original PlayStation as a “technological trailblazer,” but notes that post his departure, the console has grown increasingly similar to PCs, largely due to the influx of PC industry professionals. While acknowledging both the benefits and drawbacks of this transition, he maintains that it didn’t spur further technological leaps.
Looking ahead, Kutaragi proposes that the gaming sector should embrace the latest AI breakthroughs as the next frontier for innovation.
He points to NVIDIA and AMD, longstanding partners with Sony on the PlayStation, as examples of companies pivoting to AI. “AI represents a far more sophisticated technological domain, yet the gaming industry has barely scratched the surface,” Kutaragi remarks.
“With the immense time and resources invested in game development today, the advancements seem minimal—things like marginally improved shaders or NPCs with slightly expanded dialogue. Compared to what AI offers, it feels like the industry is stagnant,” he adds.
Kutaragi contends that AI could elevate games into a form of entertainment capable of “transforming human perception.” He forecasts that this could expand the global gaming market, currently valued at over 30 trillion yen, to approximately 3,000 trillion yen.
“It’s projected that by 2028 to 2029, real-time AI will generate content at the same pace as current consoles. When that milestone is reached, all content paradigms will shift. Interaction and imagination will become content themselves. The act of fantasizing will evolve into a content format,” Kutaragi predicts.
In a separate report from GameWatch, Kutaragi noted that while today’s AI is hailed as “remarkable,” it’s still akin to an “infant.” Its instantaneous responses are rooted in past data accumulation.
This is why Kutaragi emphasizes that the future will be shaped by “humans and AI together.” He argues that merely using AI to enhance existing frameworks isn’t enough and stresses the need for individuals who can evolve alongside AI to forge new innovations. Kutaragi suggests that those skilled in expanding AI’s potential will be highly sought after in the years to come.
Related: