Have you ever played The Sims? That’s probably a yes. It’s a game that almost every gamer has experienced in their lifetime. Unfortunately, the artificial intelligence (AI) in the game isn’t nearly as impressive as actual life. But that’s about to change – thanks to revolutionary machine learning algorithms, Google, and Stanford University.
Introducing Smallville, an AI-driven game that follows 25 animated characters as they act and live out a life just like humans do. The characters, who all have unique personalities, talk to each other and even form relationships. Unlike other non-player characters in other video games, these are powered by ChatGPT, an AI algorithm developed by Stanford scientists.
The ChatGPT algorithm allows the AI to recognize conversations and make decisions based on natural language. It even remembers conversations and events that it has experienced, so the AI can interact with its environment in a more meaningful way. To make it even more realistic, the team simulated a Valentine’s Day party where the AI characters could invite one another and exchange gifts.
The goal of the AI integration is to create a realistic environment where players can fully immerse themselves into the game’s world. Though, this is only feasible if AI is able to think for itself without relying too heavily on programming. AI-driven NPCs have the potential to make a popular game even more popular, but due to its resource-hungry nature, it could take a while until it can be showcased as a true gaming experience.
Google, in collaboration with Stanford University, are to be credited for this impressive simulation. Google is a multinational technology corporation that specializes in internet-related services, software, and hardware. It is most famous for its search engine, Google Play, and the Android operating system. Stanford University, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is a private research university that is a leader in engineering, computer science, and other scientific disciplines.
Elon Musk, owner of the well-respected Tesla brand, has been rumored to be purchasing GPUs for his own AI project. OpenAI’s fifth-generation ChatGPT, GPT-4, shows promising results, although it is slower than its predecessor. Even with these advancements in AI, it will still be a while before a game like The Sims can feature AI-driven characters that act just like humans.
In conclusion, the simulation demonstrated by Google and Stanford University is truly amazing, and it gives us hope that game developers may one day be able to integrate AI into their games to create living, breathing digital worlds. For now, you can check out their impressive work for yourself in the video linked in the article.
