Electronic Arts, commonly known as EA, recently filed a United States Patent for a new computing model of artificial intelligence. This AI model, as explained in "Artificial Intelligence for Emulating Human Playstyles," aims to revolutionize the way AI mimics human behavior in gameplay.

The promise of artificial intelligence continues to impart a sense of trepidation in modern society. Consumers see numerous examples of murderous robots and AI gone wrong in media, and the cyberpunk genre often incorporates AI in some way, with Cyberpunk 2077 as a recent example. TV shows like Black Mirror toy with the possibilities of AI technology in sometimes horrifying or hopeful ways.

Game development and publishing companies like EA are constantly looking at ways to improve on artificial intelligence programs that are essential to video games. This specific patent filed by EA targets how certain software-controlled virtual entities operate. It involves a machine learning program that receives data from actual players, and that informs an adaptable AI model that controls other virtual entities. This could all be done without a programmer having to individually add what-if scenarios into a program or algorithm.

The patent goes into detail as to how this machine-learning-informed AI model would function. In addition to another recently accepted patent about AI environmental aging, it seems that EA is committed to innovation in this regard. AI has been crucial in the gaming industry since the beginning, as it helps to inform a game how to adapt to a player's choices. This can be seen in how environments change, how enemies fight, and how NPCs interact with a player.



However, humans make mistakes. Players are no stranger to glitches and unnatural reactions caused by imperfect programming, and EA hopes to address that issue with its patented model, helping AI programs make more human decisions. There are plenty of benefits to improving AI in games, especially when it comes to the sports titles EA is known for. AI that behaves more human-like by itself could even alleviate concerns from users about malicious programming. EA is currently dealing with a lawsuit alleging the company is purposefully making FIFA 21 players lose matches so they will buy loot boxes.

Separately, EA wishes for this technology to be used not only outside of sporting games, but outside of gaming as a whole. "The technology can also be used to train AI to emulate human behavior in any program, even outside of video games, in any context where computer imitations of human behavior are used, such as simulators, visual rendering machines, interactive worlds, and the like," the patent reads.

Programs developed by leaders in the video game industry are already having positive impacts in other fields. Nvidia is a leading designer of GPUs, but has expanded into AI as well. Through The Nvidia Inception Alliance for Healthcare, the company wants to use machine learning and artificial intelligence to support the healthcare industry.

Innovative AI such as the kind described in this patent could revolutionize the gaming industry. For developers, it could increase the efficiency at which games are programmed, while helping games take up less space and processing power. For players, it could allow for better experiences against AI opponents, and help decrease the amount of bugs that a player might encounter across the board. However, until Electronic Arts' artificial intelligence for emulating human playstyles model gets implemented, consumers will have to wait to see the results.



Posted: Dec 24, 2020 12:41 pm
Related Forum: Gaming Discussion

Source: https://gamerant.com/electronic-arts-patent-ai-human-behavior/