Human Craftsmanship, Engineering and AI Are Powering Casio’s Future -Jason Lofters

 

Casio & G-SHOCK Factory Visit Yamagata Japan | Hypebeast

However, Casio’s most significant AI application is in its AI-assisted design process for watches like the MTG-B4000. Takahashi Oh, Senior General Manager of Casio’s Timepiece Business Unit, explains that AI isn’t meant to replace human creativity but to enhance it. The company feeds its vast historical data into AI to generate “expressive ideas” that designers might not have considered — an early test on the 18k yellow gold ref. G-D001 for a 2023 Philips auction confirmed this. While AI excels at functional specifications, the human touch is essential for combining elements and incorporating the ergonomics and emotional feel that make a design truly “cool.” This human-AI collaboration aligns with Casio’s “discovered cues” philosophy — preserving curiosity and pursuing the unknown.

The evolution of digital watches included bizarre yet innovative creations throughout the ’80s and ’90s: watches that doubled as TV remote controls, models with built-in dictionaries, and even game watches like the “Cyber Cross” series that allowed friends to play against each other via infrared. Other inventions included the world’s first watch-type MP3 player and a watch that could estimate distances on a map. This extensive product development reflects Casio’s history of unconventional offerings. It’s also this experimental approach that underscores a unique relationship with its community.

"I like that the process of using Al just to improve design, while keeping the human, parts of the process, I wonder what design are going to be coming, a watch that records audio would be nice. Jason Lofters."