I was driving the other day, thinking about the state of video games and this explosion of generative AI. Whether it’s graphic design, movies, or gaming, we’re seeing a massive shift. But as someone who values the work that goes into a product, whether it’s making applesauce or putting up power lines, I have some reservations.
The Allure of the Digital Remaster.
We’ve all seen it: AI that can upscale or "remaster" an old game, making a title from twenty years ago look crisp on a modern 4K TV. There’s definitely a market for that. When you’re in your 30s or 40s, you want to play the games of your youth and have them look the way you remember them looking in your mind.
But here’s the rub: A new coat of paint isn't a new experience. AI-driven upscaling is a novelty. It’s a nostalgia hit. But much like the "live-action" Disney remakes, which are really just high-end CGI—they often lack the staying power of the original. Will parents be showing their kids the "photorealistic" Lion King thirty years from now? Probably not. It’s a bit dark, a bit "uncanny valley," and it lacks the human touch of the original animation.
The "Sixth Sense" for Hard Work.
I truly believe humans have a sixth sense for effort. We can feel when something was created through genuine labor versus a prompt.
Think about anything you’ve built in your life:
A homeowner DIYing a new mailbox.
A crew out there fixing power lines in the rain.
The original creators of Jurassic Park aiming for the moon 30 years ago with limited tech.
When you take a shortcut, it shows up in the output. Because AI "trains" on what already exists, its creations always feel a bit familiar, a bit recycled. It doesn't have the "Blood, Sweat, and Tears" behind it. You can tell what it’s ripping off, and because of that, it feels cheap.
Tool vs. Takeover.
Now, I’m not a total skeptic. I remember back in school 30 years ago when people said Photoshop was a shortcut. It was! But eventually, it became a tool that humans used to express new ideas.
AI might get there, but right now, using it to just "reskin" old ideas feels like a dead end. Younger gamers aren't going to flock to a game just because it has a fresh coat of AI paint; they want something original. They want a new experience, not a "rip-off" of an old one.
The Bottom Line.
At the end of the day, you can’t shortcut creativity. Whether you're making a video game or a jar of applesauce, people can sense the work. AI might be able to mimic the look of art, but it hasn't figured out how to mimic the heart.