One of the images used by the US branch of Nintendo to promote the Super Mario series of toys clearly shows the use of generative AI, which has caused a barrage of criticism.
This year, Nintendo plans to launch a new series of Super Mario toys for the youngest. There is nothing controversial about that – you need to collect customers while they are still small! However, the announcement of this angered some Nintendo and Super Mario fans.
As part of the promotional images published by the American branch of Nintendo for these products, one of the images shows a common symptom of the use of generative AI technology. A woman holding a child and a stuffed toy Super Mary has a suspiciously long and unnaturally bent thumb.
Not the first or last time AI has misrepresented human fingers, but it is the first time Nintendo has been caught in the middle of using AI technology. Nintendo’s games and brands in the gaming world have a long tradition and are often adorned with a strong artistic direction. That’s why it’s disappointing for many to see that the oldest company in gaming uses technology that bypasses these values, even for seemingly irrelevant toy promotion.
On the post, you can find a bunch of comments condemning the dishonest use of gen AI technology to promote products. Well, it’s not easy for Nintendo either, maybe they had a problem finding children who wouldn’t be afraid of Mario’s mustache? However, it is easier to use AI technology to create scenes that are not real. I mean, it’s not far from the marketing tactics that Nintendo regularly uses for its products.