Kawakami’s team is visibly stunned by Miyazaki’s reaction. Kawakami tells him that the AI model aims to generate images that “humans cannot imagine,” while another member of the team adds that they hope to “make a machine that can draw like humans do.”

But Miyazaki’s criticism shouldn’t come as a surprise. Known for delivering multidimensional characters with emotional depth and intricate details—often based on progressive themes like war, environmental issues and feminism—he long resisted using CGI or 3D technology in his productions. It was only in July 2015 that Miyazaki announced plans to come out of retirement to produce his first CGI short.

“I feel like we are nearing to the end of times,” Miyazaki says later. “We humans are losing faith in ourselves.”

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