About AI Games
Whether it’s Cortana in Halo or the android in Detroit: Becoming Human, video game protagonists are often associated with artificial intelligence. But the technology behind those characters isn’t just for chatting or killing monsters—it can also help the gameplay feel more natural and efficient.
Much of the AI in contemporary games is fairly simple: pathfinding, if-then statements and finite state machines are just some of the ways developers program their opponents to think. But that behavior doesn’t really make the AI “smart.” It may feel like it’s thinking on its own, but it’s mostly following a set of pre-programmed rules.
Generative AI offers the possibility of more nuanced and realistic character responses. For example, in the video game Riawan, players can insert thoughts into the character Zoi, which then reflects those thoughts back to them. The system is using a small language model with half a billion parameters—larger models can go up to 30 billion and offer more room for nuance—but it’s still an impressive level of realism. Source martialartsplanet.com
Creating AI Games: A Beginner’s Guide for Developers
Another use of generative AI in gaming is the creation of more dynamic and interactive environments. The AI can create more varied levels, quests and challenges based on player actions. This can increase the longevity of a game and give gamers more opportunities to explore and discover new content.
It could also make more realistic graphics, making the world appear more lifelike by simulating the movement of fire, water, dust and foliage. This is especially important for graphical effects in action and first-person shooter games, where combat is common.