While the wider world of tech is diving headfirst into adopting artificial intelligence into their systems, Nintendo has signalled that it will not be doing the same anytime soon.
During a Q&A session with investors, Nintendo’s president Shuntaro Furukawa said: “Generative AI, which is becoming a big topic recently, can be used in creative ways, but we recognise that it may also raise issues with intellectual property rights.
“We have decades of know-how in creating the best gaming experiences for our players. While we are open to utilising technological developments, we will work to continue delivering value that is unique to Nintendo and cannot be created by technology alone.”
Furukawa’s comments on AI signal that Nintendo will probably stand alone, at least for a while, as its competitors have expressed a more supportive tone when speaking on the developing technology.
Microsoft, the maker of Xbox, previously revealed plans to add an AI chatbot to its consoles, aimed at assisting players with queries and refunds. The adoption is restricted to consumer services at the moment, but Microsoft executives outlined an “Xbox Everywhere” vision that included “AI innovation” as a central part of that ambition.
PlayStation, on the other hand, is rumoured to be preparing for a new PS5 Pro console, which will include PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an upscaling technique that uses AI to improve the quality of images.
These moves signal that unlike Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox will be integrating AI into their consoles – and most likely into their games in the near future. Acceptance and adoption are not necessarily a bad thing, but Furukuwas's point still stands – the further you go into the world of AI, the more issues concerning intellectual property rights may arise.
Before the AI boom of the past two years, games might have been considered champions of artificial intelligence. For generations, players would play against the computer, trying to beat it. The commands and code entered for the computer to be both efficient and believable is an early form of artificial intelligence.
The issues occur when AI begins making creative decisions, rather than smartly executing the commands given to it. This, even with legal issues aside, is the crux of the generative AI problem.
Imagine for example if Super Mario came face to face with his arch-enemy Bowser, who instead of reciting his written dialogue, goes on a tangent about the political dynamics of the former Yugoslavian states.
The assumption now is that if generative AI is introduced to this environment, then the possibilities are endless. Conversations could be had with non-playable characters or missions could be generated on the fly, making it possible to play a game for years before it becomes old.
But this only sounds good in theory. In practice, giving AI the power to create itself, to act as both artist and author, removes all the benefits of both. Texts could turn inflammatory, missions could become repetitive and stale, stories could meander into the distance and the artistic and narrative merit could very well disappear entirely.
Nintendo’s current stance should be exemplary to others – avoid jumping right in. Not to say Xbox and PlayStation are doing something wrong, but it doesn’t hurt to be careful, especially with a new and growing piece of technology.
More and more video game developers will eventually adopt the use of AI in their processes, most likely ushering in a new age for the medium. The prediction on my part is that this will be short-lived, and gamers will want to go back to what we have known for years – a good game is the result of creative artists, designers and developers.
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Slavery abolished
United Kingdom 1832
Ottoman Empire 1846
France 1848
Portugal 1858
United States 1865
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
PFA Team of the Year: David de Gea, Kyle Walker, Jan Vertonghen, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Alonso, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded