In the ever-evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence, it is crystal clear, that one day humans will be bested by AI.
In fact, it has already become a formidable opponent. Perhaps it was marked by Garry Kasparovโs (a top-class chess player) defeat against Deep Blue by IBM. There are many other games where players find it extremely difficult to beat AI.
But what makes AI so hard to beat in video games? And will it beat human intelligence in every game? According to Express VPN, there are still a few games where human expertise can beat AI.
However, it is only a matter of time before real players are defeated by AI. As Demis Hassabis CEO of DeepMinds says, AI will play millions of games non-stop. As a result, it will adapt to the situation and behaviour of other players. Thus with the unreal gap of expertise between AI from humans, it will be a no-match for humans.
Is AI to Better Video Games or AI Itself?
Artificial Intelligence was never first intended to be used in video games for better gameplay. Interestingly, Alan Turing a Computer Scientist first used AI in the game to find answers to his queries.
Turing doubted if machines could think just like humans do. This sole curiosity changed the AI realm, and now it is being used in every possible platform to improve human daily life.
As a result, algorithms have been developed and installed in different video games. The programs are running non-stop training with different people worldwide, and learning from itโs mistakes.
That said, video games are just a mere platform to test out the codes and train them for real-life applications โ as claimed by Kenneth Stanley (team leader of Open AI Self-Learning AI Programs).
However, on the other side, video game companies are using AI algorithms to engage players worldwide. With the advanced and trained algorithm programs, players find it intriguing to play with NPCs.
Video Games are the Perfect Simulators to Train Algorithms
Kenneth Stanley believes video games are the perfect simulator for the training of AI programs. In order to use AI in real life it needs to be trained to perfection. Also, it is essential to ensure that it is being tested against millions of situations.
Developing a physical robot and installing the AI programs in it for testing can be prohibitively expensive. However, using video games for the same purpose reduces the cost of training effectively.
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Thus, the level of difficulty becomes harder in video games. Stanley adds that video games provide a diverse array of situations, and the algorithm can adapt and perform.
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Furthermore, programs which are biologically evolved need to be trained for real-time calculations. And games like NERO, and Mario Bros. Monopoly serve as the perfect simulator.
Consequently, Minecraft is yet another open-world video game, where the AI can learn millions of human behaviours and adapt them to the world.
There is no doubt, that AI is for betterment. And that definitely increases the level of difficulty. However, he believes video games are a vehicle for the advancement of AI.
Future of AI in Video Games
Video Games have evolved significantly over time. And the implementation of AI in games has been raised to a different level, than at any time it was. With time, we can see more sophisticated NPCs and far more challenging opponents.
The major issue of advanced AI in games is fairness and accessibility. But, the important thing here is the broader vision. With the use of AI in video games, developers can use these codes to solve real-life problems.
Here are a couple of real-life applications that can be possible after countless hours of training from video games.
- Artur Filipowicz, an AI scientist at Princeton University, has been trying to develop software for autonomous vehicles. The problem here is to identify human like figures in diverse situations and conditions.
A single error can cost a human life. And to solve this, he has used the infamous game Grand Theft Auto V. He has made required modifications in the game, so that the software can identify the human-like graphics and stop the car when required.
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- Another example is DeepMind a highly advanced AI software which had to learn and adapt to situations using external inputs. The developer pulled out an impossible theory where the AI had to learn and master a game (Atari Games) without having any insights about the game.
Deepmind started playing the game and over the course of time, it mastered the art and now is capable of beating any high score in Atari Games. The primary goal was to teach the AI to learn to adapt without any pre-core programming.
Wrapping Up
Video Games are highly criticized as a waste of time, talent and many more things. However, the funny fact is researchers are using video games to learn more about AI. As a result, video games will turn out to be more challenging for humans, with far more fierce opponents. Thus, in order to win against AI in games, humans will have to level up their games as well.
Last Updated on by Icy Tales Team
