Exploring Generative AI in Video Games: Understanding Our Generation (Part 1)
In the first installment of the Electric Nightmares series, Mike Cook delves into the world of generative AI and its impact on the gaming industry. As a Senior Lecturer at King’s College London with a background in studying AI for creativity and games, Cook provides a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of AI in gaming.
Generative AI, as Cook explains, refers to machine learning systems that have been trained to produce creative content such as art, music, or writing. While the concept of using AI for creative purposes is not new, recent advancements in machine learning models have made it more accessible and popular. From AI-generated art to text-based adventure games like AI Dungeon, generative AI is making its mark in the gaming world.
Cook introduces new terminology to help differentiate between various types of generative AI systems. He categorizes them as online versus offline, visible versus invisible, and heavy versus light. Online systems generate content in real-time during gameplay, while offline systems are used in development. Visible systems produce content that is directly experienced by the player, while invisible systems create behind-the-scenes content. Heavy AI models are trained on large datasets scraped from the internet, while lighter models are built on smaller, hand-curated datasets.
The popularity of generative AI in the gaming industry is on the rise, with a significant percentage of developers incorporating it into their workflow. However, the future of generative AI in gaming remains uncertain. Cook suggests that the most impactful AI systems may be offline, invisible, and lighter, rather than the online, visible, and heavy systems that are currently making headlines.
As the series continues, Cook plans to explore the ethical and legal implications of using generative AI in games. With a mix of history, industry insights, and forward-thinking analysis, Electric Nightmares promises to be a thought-provoking journey into the intersection of AI and gaming.
Stay tuned for the next installment as we dive deeper into the complex world of generative AI in video games. Until then, keep your fingers counted and steer clear of any suspicious robots.