Casio G-Shock MTG-B4000: AI-assisted design

Casio’s newest G-Shock, the MTG-B4000 series, boasts a notable first for the company. Beyond introducing a new carbon-and-metal construction, the MTG-B4000 is also the first G-Shock model developed using an AI-assisted design and engineering process.

Available in the MTG-B4000B-1A and MTG-B4000BD-1A variants, the new watches continue the MT-G line’s tradition of combining stainless steel and resin construction. However, Casio says the development process behind the MTG-B4000 differs from previous models. Human designers first created the initial concepts before AI was used to analyse and optimise the structure, resulting in a new frame design that integrates carbon fibre and stainless steel.

According to Casio, the collaboration between human designers and AI helped produce a distinctive frame architecture that it says “balances structural rigidity, durability and aesthetics”. The resulting case features a complex layered construction that gives the watch a more sculpted appearance than earlier MT-G models while retaining the toughness expected of a G-Shocks.

The MTG-B4000B-1A is positioned as the sportier of the two models. Priced at $1,699, it pairs a multi-layered carbon frame and dial with red accents and a soft urethane strap. The MTG-B4000BD-1A, meanwhile, adopts a more premium all-black aesthetic. Priced at $1,899, it introduces a newly developed layered-composite bracelet that combines stainless steel with carbon fibre-reinforced resin, and finished with black ion plating across both the bezel and bracelet.

Casio has also paid considerable attention to the finishing of the watches. The bezel, case and bracelet feature a combination of hairline and mirror-polished surfaces designed to highlight the different materials and geometric shapes. Select sections are finished using Sallaz polishing, while the case back is manufactured using metal injection moulding (MIM), allowing for a more intricate three-dimensional design.

While AI has already become a common tool in industries ranging from software development to automotive engineering, its role in watchmaking has largely been limited to manufacturing and production processes. I thought the MTG-B4000 is interesting because it places AI much earlier in the product development cycle, using it as part of the design and engineering process itself. Whether this approach becomes more common across future watch collections remains to be seen, but it offers an early glimpse at how AI and human designers could harmonise and collaborate.

Availability and price

The G-Shocks MTG-B4000B-1A ($1,699) and MTG-B4000BD-1A ($1,899)  are available now at G-Shocks stores, authorised Casio retailers and through Casio’s online store.