AI Usage in the gaming industry.

AI, artificial intelligence that can perform various functions, is indisputably evolving to become part of everyday life. With intelligent assistants like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri and websites like ChatGPT, society has become reliant on Artificial Intelligence to complete mundane tasks such as writing essays or personalising our online shopping apps to create a better experience.

AI plays a significant part in everyday life and is now involved in other industries like gaming to enhance gameplay, NPC behaviour, and player experience by creating more lifelike character interactions to generate vast worlds; AI is reshaping how games are designed and played.

A video game notoriously recognised for its positive utilisation of AI is The Last of Us Part II by the company Naughty Dog. The apocalyptic narrative is enhanced using advanced motion capture technology and AI to make realistic character movements and dynamic facial expressions. In games like The Last of Us Part II, AI is also used to create responsive characters that react to player actions. NPCs, non-playable characters, both enemies and allies, adjust their behaviour based on the player’s choices, making the experience more immersive and volatile. For example, enemies can adapt their tactics based on the player’s previous actions, forcing the player to constantly evolve their strategy, ensuring that encounters feel fresh and challenging and keep the player engaged.

Another example of AI in gaming is the procedural generation used in the game ‘No Man’s Sky’. AI  generates vast, unique universes for players to explore, each with different planets, ecosystems, and landscapes. This makes the game world endless and ensures that no two players experience the same adventure. Procedural generation also boosts replayability, as players can continue to explore new, randomly generated environments. AI is also used for adaptive difficulty in games like Halo, adjusting enemy behaviour based on how well the player performs, helping maintain an engaging level of challenge without overwhelming the player.

However, integrating AI into gaming raises ethical concerns. A significant issue is player data privacy. Many games collect detailed information on players, such as their playstyles, preferences, and personal data. AI uses this information to customise the gameplay experience and advertisements, but this raises questions about how much personal data is being collected and whether it is stored securely. 

The rise of online gaming also makes data collection more prevalent, prompting concerns over how this information is utilised. Another worry is the potential for hyper-addiction due to AI’s ability to personalise gameplay, adjusting difficulty, rewards, and challenges based on player behaviour, which can make games highly engaging. However, this personalisation can also lead to addictive patterns. Games can become increasingly difficult to put down, encouraging players to spend excessive time playing. This raises questions about the ethical responsibility of game developers, who may inadvertently exploit psychological triggers to keep players engaged.

As AI continues to evolve, companies will continue implementing it in their games, as the potential for more immersive and personalised experiences is greater. However, game developers must consider AI’s ethical implications, particularly in data privacy and player addiction. Ultimately, a moral and fair balance between technological advancement and the player experience will ensure that AI is utilised cautiously.

By Shannon

Winchmore School Newsroom

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