Hideo Kojima calls AI a 'janitor for creative chores' after backlash over his appearance in an AI-generated promo

Hideo Kojima, creator behind genre-defining titles like Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, has been vocal about his stance on AI on numerous occasions. The boiled-down summary is that he believes AI belongs in the room as a tool, not at the table as a creator. But that position came under scrutiny recently when an AI-generated promotional film featuring Hideo Kojima sparked a wave of reactions online.

The film was created for the Satellites II exhibition, a collaboration between Kojima and Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, presented as part of Prada Mode New York. The six-minute short depicts the pair as space travelers crash-landing on an alien planet, and Refn confirmed it was made using AI. For many fans, seeing Kojima appear in AI-generated content felt at odds with the themes running through his games, particularly the Metal Gear Solid series, which has long warned against over-reliance on technology and AI-driven systems of control.

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In response to the online discussion about the ad, Kojima reiterated his views on AI. Speaking with The Washington Post (via Kotaku) for a profile tied to the Satellites II exhibition at New York's Hotel Chelsea, he stated he does not believe AI will create meaningful art within his lifetime. "Art is life," Kojima said. "But in 50 years, 100 years, I don't know. Maybe AI could create art, but while I live, I don't think I'll see it. I'm not interested in it."

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His Washington Post comments do not entirely resolve that tension, but they do make it clear that Kojima does not appear to be rejecting AI outright. Instead, he sees AI working best as a "janitor for creative chores," handling repetitive and time-consuming tasks while humans remain responsible for the ideas and decisions that shape the final work.

That framing is consistent with his previous comments, in which he has described a future of creating alongside AI and suggested that the technology could boost efficiency rather than replace creativity. Where Kojima draws the line is at AI as a creative force in its own right.