Summary
Discover how AI is reshaping game development, from procedural generation to intelligent NPCs and beyond. This technical session brings together game developers, AI engineers, and industry leaders to explore cutting-edge applications transforming interactive entertainment.
Speakers and detailed program to be announced.
This event is part of the AI x Entertainment Series, culminating in an AI filmmaking hackathon in April where winners will present at the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles at a 3-day Global Hollywood Film Festival.
Agenda
18:00 - 18:15: Doors open18:15 - 18:20: Even Introduction18:20 - 18:40: How AI Enables New Kinds of Indie Games (Jerry Chi, Supercell)18:40 - 19:00: To be confirmed (compliance review)19:00 - 19:20: TBD (Masayuki Yamagishi, NextNinja)19:20 - 19:40: Building AI-Native Games as an Indie Studio: Tactics and Global Trends (Jun Misaki, Pit-Step)19:40 - 20:00: Games Development from an AI Engineering Perspective (Gautier Boeda, Square Enix)20:00 - 21:00: Networking21:00: Doors close
Speakers
Talk 1 - How AI Enables New Kinds of Indie Games
Speaker: Jerry Chi
Abstract: Jerry will present on how AI enables new kinds of indie games. We have a lot more AI models and tools powered by those models available for game developers now. LLMs, generation of images/video/3D objects, and world models... how are they actually used for game development, and how are new kinds of experiences emerging that involve AI model inference during gameplay? Jerry will provide some concrete examples of games as well as an overview of promising trends and ideas.
Bio: Jerry is the Head of Supercell's Tokyo AI Innovation Lab, where he will incubate teams building AI-powered games and entertainment, reflecting his passion for creative applications of machine learning. A quadrilingual Stanford and UPenn alum, he has diverse experience in analytics and machine learning roles at Google, SmartNews, Indeed, and PixAI, and served as country manager for Stability AI. Also, Jerry enjoys supporting the AI startup ecosystem as an ex-entrepreneur and angel investor.
Talk 2 - To be confirmed
Speaker: TBC (compliance review)
Abstract: TBC
Bio: TBC
Talk 3 - TBD
Speaker: Masayuki Yamagishi
Abstract: TBD
Bio: TBD
Talk 4 - Building AI-Native Games as an Indie Studio: Tactics and Global Trends
Speaker: Jun Misaki
Abstract: Generative AI is rapidly transforming the game industry, and indie game studios are exploring new ways to create AI-native game experiences. In this talk, Jun, founder of the Tokyo-based indie game studio Pit-Step, shares lessons from planning and developing the AI-driven game NINJA CATS: Tactics. The game allows players to interact with and raise NINJA CATS through natural voice conversations, integrating AI directly into its core mechanics rather than using it only for production efficiency. Drawing from hands-on development experience, the talk explores practical approaches to AI-driven game design and highlights global trends shaping the future of AI-powered games.
Bio: While at university, he worked on a VR baseball simulator and was selected for Japan’s MEXT EDGE program, through which he visited Silicon Valley. After joining Accenture, he focused on service UX design and new business initiatives using advanced technologies such as AI, and in 2021, he left the firm to found Pit-Step, Inc. to build products and games at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and creativity.
Talk 5 - Games Development from an AI Engineering Perspective
Speaker: Gautier Boeda
Abstract: Since 2017, Gautier Boeda has been working as an AI Engineer at SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. Over these years, the field of AI has evolved rapidly, prompting significant structural changes within the company. What began as a small AI team has grown into a fully established division and more. In this talk, Gautier will reflect on this journey—highlighting the various AI domains explored, the shifting responsibilities that accompanied technological progress, and how these developments have shaped the organization’s approach to AI. The session will also offer a glimpse into the future direction of AI at SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
Bio: Gautier Boeda has spent nearly a decade at SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. working as an AI Engineer. He has contributed to a wide range of R&D initiatives focused on character interaction, including planning systems, decision‑making frameworks, utility‑based AI, and emotional AI. Many of these technologies have been showcased at conferences such as GDC, CEDEC, and SIGGRAPH Asia. As the AI landscape has evolved, his work has expanded to include reinforcement learning, among others, and generative AI. Outside of the office, he enjoys participating in game jams and spending time cycling.
AI x Entertainment Series Schedule
Fri, Jan 16: AI x Anime (done)Fri, Feb 13: AI x Games (this)Fri, Mar 13: AI x Movies (next)April (day TBD): AI Filmmaking Hackathon
Organizers
Ilya Kulyatin: Fintech and AI entrepreneur with work and academic experience in the US, Netherlands, Singapore, UK, and Japan, with an MSc in Machine Learning from UCL.Jerry Chi: Jerry heads Supercell’s Tokyo AI Innovation Lab, fostering AI-driven games and entertainment. He is a quadrilingual Stanford and UPenn graduate with ML and analytics experience at Google, SmartNews, Indeed, PixAI, and as Stability AI’s country manager, and is also an ex-entrepreneur and angel investor in AI startups.
Supporters
Tokyo AI (TAI) is the biggest AI community in Japan, with 3,000+ members mainly based in Tokyo (engineers, researchers, investors, product managers, and corporate innovation managers).
Value Create is a management advisory and corporate value design firm offering services such as business consulting, education, corporate communications, and investment support to help companies and individuals unlock their full potential and drive sustainable growth.
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