Nintendo denies using AI images in Mario Kart World after suspicious billboards spotted on tracks

The use of AI in video games has become an increasingly controversial topic. During a Nintendo Treehouse broadcast, viewers noticed strange billboards on the sides of Mario Kart World tracks. The suspected AI images depicted familiar objects, but had unorthodox designs. Speaking with Eurogamer, a Nintendo representative revealed that AI artwork has no role in Mario Kart World.

After examining the Mario Kart World footage, many gamers were skeptical that AI images were present. Still, a few billboards raised some concerns. One example was a construction ad for a bridge, where some parts of the design seemed out of place. Next to it was a picture of a skyscraper that didn't resemble a real-world structure. Finally, another billboard showed a car with abnormally high windows. Current AI tools often lack the sophistication or training to create convincing designs.

Mario Kart World is the most ambitious entry in the series yet and features expansive open-world tracks. With the burden of filling these worlds with details, AI might be a tempting shortcut. Still, influential Nintendo figures have hesitated to embrace generative AI. Last July, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said AI was useful to dictate the behavior of "opponent characters". However, he was wary of the intellectual property rights issues that machine-created images raise.

Famous Nintendo game director, designer, and producer Shigeru Miyamoto is also not on board with recent trends. In a September 2024 interview, Miyamoto suggested that the company wouldn't follow the lead of some competitors. Sony, for example, has patented an AI technology that allows artists to create game assets.

Most gamers aren't opposed to developers using AI to make enemies behave more realistically. Even so, $80 games like Mario Kart World employing AI images would be another matter. The firestorm surrounding an Ark: Survival Evolved trailer serves as a warning to the industry.