Simon Willison’s project to recreate Mad House using AI tools underscores the growing trend of leveraging AI for nostalgic and historical preservation. While the effort is intriguing, it may be seen as a niche application rather than a transformative use of AI technology. The broader implications for AI in preserving digital history remain unclear, and it’s worth considering whether such projects truly advance the field or simply cater to a specific audience. The real test will be whether these tools can be scaled to preserve more complex or significant digital artifacts.
Simon Willison recreates 1980s game Mad House using AI tools
AI tools enable nostalgic recreation of classic 1980s computer game Mad House from Usborne books.
AIpressr commentary on an article originally published by Simon Willison.
Editor's Take
Simon Willison, as reported, has used AI to recreate the 1980s game Mad House from Usborne’s Creepy Computer Games. This project highlights how AI can bridge the gap between nostalgic content and modern technology. While the effort is commendable, it raises questions about the broader utility of AI in preserving historical digital artifacts. Is this a meaningful application of AI, or merely a nostalgic exercise?
“I fed that PDF into Claude and had it build an interactive version of that game in JavaScript and HTML.”
Our analysis
Have AI news to share?
Submit your release →Publisher or subject of this story? Object to this commentary or request a correction →
