Introduction
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In many different fields of society, AI systems have proven that they can not only meet but also exceed human performance, such as image recognition, speech transcription and direct translation. These are activities performed by a machine that we associate in general with intelligence in living beings. This is why the label artificial is attached to this emerging form of intelligence. (Sweijs, 2018) Nevertheless, in the case of video games, the application of the term “artificial intelligence” might be a misnomer, as many games don’t use true AI techniques. Game developers are usually not AI researchers, and many games use simple predetermined patterns. Even while AI researchers debate whether AI in games is the real thing, game developers have used, developed and diversify techniques from AI research to create more challenging and complex programs. (Delony, n.d)
Intelligence, as defined by Stanford University's Formal Reasoning Group, is "the computational part of the ability to achieve goals in the world.” This definition refers to the internal processes (“computation…”) made inside each one of us in order to achieve a goal across many different situations. (Sweijs, 2018) Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a scientific discipline which aims at conceiving machines that can perform one or more tasks that would usually require human intelligence. This discipline started around 60 years ago and can now be divided into two main areas of research. One is based on rules, logic, and symbols; it is explainable as it can be used only when all possible scenarios for the problem at hand can be foreseen. If the problem has been correctly specified, the Artificial Intelligence will always find the correct solution. The other area of research is based on examples, data analysis, and correlation. It is better suited to an incomplete or ill-defined notion of the problem to be solved. However, this type of AI requires a lot of data, is usually less explainable, and there is always a small margin of error. These two domains of research and ways of thinking about AI are increasingly being combined in order to maximize the advantages of both and to mitigate their drawbacks. (Rossi, 2018)
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Credits: OpenAI
According to Julian Togelius, Associate Professor at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, “video games as a whole offer the best test of intelligence we have”. Compared to a robot learning to complete tasks in a physical space, a virtual environment also allows algorithms to develop much more quickly at a lower cost, Togelius says. For example, researchers at OpenAI recently demonstrated an algorithm that had taught itself to manipulate a cube by learning through trial and error in a virtual simulation for the equivalent of about 100 years. But there is also an opportunity to think outside the box by applying the lessons learned in video games to new areas, Togelius explains. (How video games, 2018)
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While it usually takes a long time for the population to recognize the impact the video game industry has on other domains of the society, the present study aims at highlighting the current and possible future impacts the video game industry has on the general development of artificial intelligence. The study has taken most of its information from secondary sources, yet interviews were conducted in order to illustrate facts with actual examples and quotes from the people interviewed.
The study contains in addition a case study of the recent game Red Dead Redemption 2 created by Rockstar Games in 2019 to showcase how far Artificial Intelligence has come in this media to create an engaging, realistic and responsive virtual environment and its benefits for other domains of society.
This study will not focus on the nature of the Artificial Intelligence implemented in video games, as this would require a philosophical analysis of the actual nature of intelligence, free-will and reality in general. Thus, for the benefit of simplicity we will assume that when a video game uses a machine capable of making decisions to achieve a specific goal and/or is capable of reacting to impromptu events in its virtual environment, said video game is using artificial intelligence.