Gabe Newell Secures SpaceX and OpenAI Tour for Hideo Kojima via Elon Musk

A Meeting That Could Have Changed the Future

In 2018, Hideo Kojima, the acclaimed game designer behind the Metal Gear series, visited Valve headquarters to discuss his upcoming project, Death Stranding. This meeting was not just a routine discussion but an opportunity for Kojima to explore new ideas and potential collaborations. Thanks to the ongoing Musk v. Altman lawsuit, which has made some emails public, we now have a glimpse into the conversations that took place between Kojima and Gabe Newell, the co-founder of Valve.

It seems that Kojima and Newell had a strong rapport, even if they weren't already close friends. During their meeting, Newell promised to introduce Kojima to people at OpenAI, a relatively unknown organization at the time, as well as to Elon Musk. This was a significant gesture, considering Musk's influence in the tech world and his ownership of SpaceX.

The Dream of Space Travel

Kojima's interest in space travel is no secret. He has long expressed a desire to visit space, and this ambition was evident in his interactions with Newell. In a late October 2018 email to Musk, Newell mentioned that Kojima emphasized the importance of future work in AI. He also highlighted Kojima's passion for space exploration, offering to introduce him to Musk.

Musk responded positively, stating that he would be happy to meet Kojima and invited him to visit the rocket factory. "Welcome anytime," he wrote on X (then known as Twitter), showing his openness to the idea.

Kojima's desire to go to space is more than just a passing interest. In his book The Creative Gene, he expresses his deep yearning for the cosmos:

"If I could have just one wish in my life—if I could cast a magic spell and make anything come true—without hesitation, it would be this: 'I wish to go to space before I die.' It doesn't have to be anything as extravagant as a trip to the moon or Mars. I would be satisfied with only a brief orbit, just beyond Earth’s atmosphere, where I can gently brush against outer space. I would give up anything to make that wish come true: my current place as a game designer, which I’ve built up for forty-five years; I'm even prepared to throw away my family or my own life. That is how powerfully I—or rather we—yearn for the cosmos."

This level of dedication underscores the urgency with which Kojima seeks to fulfill his dream.

OpenAI and Musk's Ambivalence

While Kojima's interest in space was clear, his desire to engage with OpenAI also came up during the conversation. Musk's response to Newell's suggestion revealed an early ambivalence towards OpenAI, which may have foreshadowed the current legal battle between Musk and Sam Altman.

Musk stated that his involvement with OpenAI was limited, providing only financial support and occasional updates from Altman. He also mentioned that he had lost confidence in OpenAI's ability to serve as a counterweight to Google and DeepMind, leading him to focus on Tesla instead.

Newell, however, was not entirely convinced by Musk's claims about Tesla's financial strength. Given the massive revenue Steam generates for Valve, it's hard to imagine that Newell was overly impressed by Musk's "billions of dollars per year" statement.

Neuralink and the Future of Brain Technology

Newell's interest in neuroscience also emerged during the conversation. Initially skeptical about neuromodulation techniques like rTMS, he later changed his perspective, recognizing a potential consumer market. He reached out to Musk for advice on connecting with the Neuralink team.

Musk provided several contacts and shared an update on Neuralink's progress. He mentioned that the company had achieved significant technical milestones, including implanting around 6,000 electrodes in a monkey brain with good signal quality. The electronics were compact enough to fit flush with the skull, with only a USB-C port visible. "Very trippy," he added, drawing a comparison to the cyberpunk novel Neuromancer.

Conclusion

The exchange between Kojima, Newell, and Musk highlights the intersection of gaming, technology, and space exploration. While Kojima's dream of space travel remains unfulfilled, his vision and ambition continue to inspire. As for the future of AI and neuroscience, the conversations between these industry leaders suggest that the road ahead is both exciting and complex.