Introduction

Most video games have various components powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI incorporated in video games provides a genuine and realistic gaming experience to players as they compete against one other on a virtual platform.

Creating artificial environments by integrating augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality is the future of the gaming industry. In fact, it is expected that almost 80 percent of human interactions will be done without humans by the year 2020.

Note: Computer games are being designed currently with the purpose of studying their own patterns to improve their algorithms, which is one of the several ways of AI being developed.

Use of AI in Programming and Gaming Development

AI runs on information accessible to it and utilizes this data to create an existence where the characters can live and complete basic actions. Data collated through AI is then engineered to set up a virtual gaming environment which involves actions, scenarios, and motives that are attributed to the gaming characters.

To achieve this, AI algorithms must have access to the required data which in turn creates the best possible responses to specific stimuli.

Note: The enormous amount of information that is required to efficiently train the AI algorithms is not readily accessible. This may be one of the reasons that AI is not yet being utilized across all industries.

Ways in which AI can Transform the Gaming Industry?

  • AI in 2020Smarter and Realistic Games: The main goal of AI in video games is to collate and process information received from players and to adapt the environment to the expectations of the players. 3D visualization techniques and physics-based simulations are a big revolution in the gaming industry; such advanced technologies have made the gaming experience very realistic.
  • Transforming Skills of Developer: The options and the opportunities with AI are infinite; thus, developers can hone their skills and give the best game possible.
  • More Adaptable Mobile Games: Mobile game developers are regularly implementing new AI algorithms to make the titles smarter. New algorithms and libraries are able to build much smarter mobile games, which don’t yield to their computer versions.
  • Better Authentic Environments and Visuals: AI generates new environments and outstanding graphics where the reality and the virtual world feel seamless.
Note: It is expected that the global AI market will gain a revenue of $118.6 billion by 2025.

How AI is Used in the Gaming Industry?

  • Reinforcement Learning Essential for Adaptable Games: Reinforcement learning is a type of Machine Learning (ML) that enables the machine to learn its behavior depending on feedback from the environment. There is also good potential for advanced learning which needs to be used cautiously to avoid problems.
  • Preserve Quality Player Experience: Concerns such as personalization of the gaming experience based on each player’s behavioral data need to be tackled. Gaming companies are trying to provide more realism and natural interaction between players and environments. There are also fascinating marketing applications supported by AI if the quality of the user experience is preserved.
  • Gaming Industry as the Testing Ground: As Google’s AlphaGo program proved – a machine can create a competitive advantage by setting up strategies that no human would consider. However, analyzing data is different from analyzing human emotions. The gaming industry is now creating emotional AI that closely resembles human relationships.
  • Both Humans and AI: In a recent experiment carried out by the Georgia Institute of Technology, an AI reconstructed a game engine simply by watching gameplay. Such advances can help game developers reach high levels of development. However, one must always remember that there is only one way to determine if a game keeps humans entertained, and that is having a human test it.

What’s Next?

As video games occupy one of the largest niches on the market, companies continuously compete to bring something new to the table. With the help of AI, the process is efficient and faster: this technology can learn itself, adapt to numerous conditions, and create a plot without anyone’s interference. The future can only be left to our imagination.