AI in Digital Entertainment

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AI in Digital Entertainment. Instructor: Rand Waltzman E-mail: rand@nada.kth.se Phone: 790 6882 Room: 1430, Lindstedtsvägen 3 4 point course Periods I and II. Administrivia. There is no tenta for the course! There is a final paper. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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AI in Digital Entertainment

Instructor: Rand WaltzmanE-mail: rand@nada.kth.sePhone: 790 6882Room: 1430, Lindstedtsvägen 3 4 point coursePeriods I and II

AdministriviaAdministriviaThere is There is nono tentatenta for the course! for the course!There is a final paper.There is a final paper.– Design and analysis of some type of digital based entertainment that Design and analysis of some type of digital based entertainment that

uses some type of AI technology to enhance the participants uses some type of AI technology to enhance the participants experience.experience.

Three homework assignments.Three homework assignments.Final paper is Final paper is requiredrequired to pass the course. to pass the course.Final grade will depend on how many successful (graded on a Final grade will depend on how many successful (graded on a pass/fail basis) homework assignments you hand in on time.pass/fail basis) homework assignments you hand in on time.– 1 assignment 1 assignment Final grade 3 Final grade 3– 2 assignments 2 assignments Final grade 4 Final grade 4– 3 assignments 3 assignments Final grade 5 Final grade 5

Details of the paper and the homework assignments will be found Details of the paper and the homework assignments will be found on the course web site.on the course web site.

“The holy grail of game design is to make a game where the challenges are never ending, the skills required are varied, and the difficulty curve is perfect and adjusts itself to exactly our skill level. Someone did this already, though, and its not always fun. It’s called life. Maybe you’ve played it?”

“The problem with people isn’t that they work to undermine games and make them boring. That’s the natural course of events. The real problem with people is that... even though our brains feed us drugs to keep

us learning ...... even though from earliest childhood we are

trained to learn through play ...... even though our brains send incredibly clear feedback that we should learn throughout our

lives ...”

PEOPLE ARE LAZY

New PossibilitiesNew Possibilities

Application of AI techniques offer potential for Application of AI techniques offer potential for new:new:– MediaMedia– Design fieldDesign field– Art formArt form

Different dimensions to consider:Different dimensions to consider:– Cognitive psychologyCognitive psychology– Computer scienceComputer science– Environmental designEnvironmental design– StorytellingStorytelling

What is Fun?What is Fun?

A source of enjoyment.A source of enjoyment.All about making the brain feel good.All about making the brain feel good.– Release of Release of endorphinsendorphins into your system. into your system.– Same sorts of chemicals released bySame sorts of chemicals released by

Listening to music we resonate to.Listening to music we resonate to.Reading a great book.Reading a great book.Snorting cocaine.Snorting cocaine.Having an orgasm.Having an orgasm.Eating chocolate.Eating chocolate.

Fun is the feedback the brain gives us when we Fun is the feedback the brain gives us when we are absorbing are absorbing patternspatterns for learning purposes. for learning purposes.

Subtle ApproachSubtle Approach

One of the subtlest releases of chemicals is at One of the subtlest releases of chemicals is at the moment of triumph when wethe moment of triumph when we– Learn something Learn something – Master a taskMaster a task– Our bodies way of rewarding usOur bodies way of rewarding usThis is one of the most important ways we find This is one of the most important ways we find pleasure in pleasure in gamesgames..In games, learning is the drug.In games, learning is the drug.Boredom is the Boredom is the oppositeopposite. . – When the game stops teaching us, we feel bored.When the game stops teaching us, we feel bored.

Experience vs. DataExperience vs. Data

New data is used to flesh out a pattern.New data is used to flesh out a pattern.New experience might force a whole new New experience might force a whole new system on the brain.system on the brain.– Potentially disruptive and not so much fun.Potentially disruptive and not so much fun.

Games must continually navigate between Games must continually navigate between – Deprivation vs. overloadDeprivation vs. overload– Excessive chaos vs. excessive orderExcessive chaos vs. excessive order– Silence vs. noiseSilence vs. noise

How to Make a Boring GameHow to Make a Boring Game

Player figures out whole game in first 5 minutes.Player figures out whole game in first 5 minutes.Player might see that there are incredible Player might see that there are incredible number of possible permutations.number of possible permutations.– Require mastery of a ton of Require mastery of a ton of uninterestinguninteresting details. details.Player fails to see any pattern whatsoever.Player fails to see any pattern whatsoever.Pacing of the revelation of variations in the Pacing of the revelation of variations in the pattern too slow.pattern too slow.– Or too fast.Or too fast.Player masters everything in the available Player masters everything in the available patterns.patterns.

A Little Cognitive TheoryA Little Cognitive TheoryThe brain is made to fill in the blanks.The brain is made to fill in the blanks.– E.g., see a face in a bunch of cartoony lines and interpret subtle E.g., see a face in a bunch of cartoony lines and interpret subtle

emotions from them.emotions from them.– Fantastic ability to make and apply Fantastic ability to make and apply assumptionsassumptions..

The brain is good at cutting out the irrelevant.The brain is good at cutting out the irrelevant.– Show somebody a movie with a lot of jugglers in it.Show somebody a movie with a lot of jugglers in it.– Tell them in advance to count all the jugglers.Tell them in advance to count all the jugglers.– They will probably miss the large pink gorilla in the background.They will probably miss the large pink gorilla in the background.

The brain notices a lot more than we think.The brain notices a lot more than we think.– Put somebody in a hypnotic trance and ask them to describe Put somebody in a hypnotic trance and ask them to describe

something vs.something vs.– Asking them on the street!Asking them on the street!

A Little More ...A Little More ...

The brain is actively hiding the real world from The brain is actively hiding the real world from us.us.– Ask somebody to draw something.Ask somebody to draw something.– More likely to get the generalized iconic version of the More likely to get the generalized iconic version of the

object ...object ...The one they keep in their head.The one they keep in their head.

– Rather than the actual object they have in front of Rather than the actual object they have in front of them.them.

Seeing what is actually in front of us is hard.Seeing what is actually in front of us is hard.– Most of us never learn how to do it.Most of us never learn how to do it.

ChunkingChunkingCompiling an action or set of actions into a Compiling an action or set of actions into a routine.routine.– Allows us to perform the action on autopilot.Allows us to perform the action on autopilot.– Burning a recipe into the neurons.Burning a recipe into the neurons.

Example: Describe how you get to work in the Example: Describe how you get to work in the morning.morning.– Get upGet up– Stumble to the bathroomStumble to the bathroom– Take a showerTake a shower– Get dressedGet dressed– Drive to work.Drive to work.

Easy enough, but ...Easy enough, but ...

ChunkingChunkingWhat if I ask you to describe What if I ask you to describe oneone of these steps? of these steps?Example: Getting dressed.Example: Getting dressed.– Tops or bottoms first?Tops or bottoms first?– Socks in top or second drawer?Socks in top or second drawer?– Which pant leg goes in first?Which pant leg goes in first?– Which hand touches the button of your shirt first?Which hand touches the button of your shirt first?You could probably answer with You could probably answer with enoughenough thoughtthought..– This operation has been chunked. This operation has been chunked. – You would have to decompile and that would take You would have to decompile and that would take

timetime..

More on Chunking ...More on Chunking ...We usually run on chunked patterns.We usually run on chunked patterns.– Most of what we see is a chunked pattern.Most of what we see is a chunked pattern.– We rarely look at the real world.We rarely look at the real world.

We usually recognize something chunked and leave it at that.We usually recognize something chunked and leave it at that.

When something in a chunk does When something in a chunk does notnot behave as behave as we expect we have we expect we have problemsproblems..– A car starts moving sideways on a road instead of A car starts moving sideways on a road instead of

forward.forward.– We no longer have a rapid response.We no longer have a rapid response.– Unfortunately, Unfortunately, consciousconscious thought is very thought is very inefficientinefficient..– If you have to think about what you are doing, you are If you have to think about what you are doing, you are

likely to screw it up.likely to screw it up.

3 Levels of Thought3 Levels of Thought

Conscious thought.Conscious thought.– LogicalLogical– Works on a basically mathematical level.Works on a basically mathematical level.– Assigns values and makes lists.Assigns values and makes lists.– Very slow!Very slow!

Integrative, associative and intuitive.Integrative, associative and intuitive.NonNon-thinking thought.-thinking thought.– You stick your hand in a fire.You stick your hand in a fire.– You pull it out You pull it out beforebefore you have time to you have time to thinkthink about it. about it.

Integrative ThoughtIntegrative Thought

Part of the brain that does the chunking.Part of the brain that does the chunking.Can’t normally access this part of the brain Can’t normally access this part of the brain directly.directly.It is frequently It is frequently wrongwrong..It is the source of common sense.It is the source of common sense.– Often self-contradictory.Often self-contradictory.

““look before you leap”look before you leap”““he who hesitates is lost”he who hesitates is lost”

This is where approximations of reality are built.This is where approximations of reality are built.

Appeal to Their IntelligenceAppeal to Their IntelligencessSome basic types of intelligence that Some basic types of intelligence that entertainment can entertainment can appealappeal to:to:– LinguisticLinguistic– Logical-MathematicalLogical-Mathematical– Bodily-KinestheticBodily-Kinesthetic– SpatialSpatial– MusicalMusical– InterpersonalInterpersonal– Intrapersonal Intrapersonal

Internally directedInternally directedSelf motivatedSelf motivated

Fun is EducationalFun is EducationalLearn to calculate odds.Learn to calculate odds.– Prediction of events.Prediction of events.– Qualitative probability.Qualitative probability.Learn about power and status.Learn about power and status.– Not surprisingly of interest since we are basically Not surprisingly of interest since we are basically

hierarchical and strongly tribal primates.hierarchical and strongly tribal primates.Learn to examine environment or space around Learn to examine environment or space around us.us.– Spatial relationships are critically important.Spatial relationships are critically important.– Classifying, collating and exercising power over the Classifying, collating and exercising power over the

contents of space is crucial element of many games.contents of space is crucial element of many games.Using spatial relations as basis for predictive models.Using spatial relations as basis for predictive models.

Fun is Educational ...Fun is Educational ...Learn to explore conceptual spaces.Learn to explore conceptual spaces.– Understanding rules is not enough.Understanding rules is not enough.– To exercise power over a conceptual space we need to know To exercise power over a conceptual space we need to know

how it reacts to change.how it reacts to change.– Exploring a possibility space is an excellent way to learn about it.Exploring a possibility space is an excellent way to learn about it.

Memory plays an essential role.Memory plays an essential role.E.g., recalling and managing very long and complex chains of E.g., recalling and managing very long and complex chains of information.information.

– Provide tools for exploration. But, the Provide tools for exploration. But, the tricktrick is to strike a balance is to strike a balance betweenbetween

Teaching players to rely on tools to overcome their own limitations Teaching players to rely on tools to overcome their own limitations VSVSMaking people so dependent on tools that they can’t function Making people so dependent on tools that they can’t function without them.without them.

Fun is Educational ...Fun is Educational ...

Learn basic skills:Learn basic skills:– Quick reaction time.Quick reaction time.– Tactical AwarenessTactical Awareness– Assessing the weakness of an opponent.Assessing the weakness of an opponent.– Judging when to strike.Judging when to strike.– Network building.Network building.

A very modern skill.A very modern skill.As opposed to basic cave-man skills.As opposed to basic cave-man skills.

Good EntertainmentGood EntertainmentThought provokingThought provokingRevelatory Revelatory – Good portrayal of human conditionGood portrayal of human condition– Provides insightProvides insight

Contributes to betterment of society.Contributes to betterment of society.Forces us to reexamine assumptions.Forces us to reexamine assumptions.Gives us different experiences each time we participate.Gives us different experiences each time we participate.Allows each of us to approach it in his/her own way.Allows each of us to approach it in his/her own way.Forgives misinterpretationsForgives misinterpretations– Maybe even encourages themMaybe even encourages them

Does not dictate.Does not dictate.Immerses and imposes a world view.Immerses and imposes a world view.

From Game to ArtFrom Game to ArtFor games to reach art, the mechanics must be For games to reach art, the mechanics must be revelatory of the human condition.revelatory of the human condition.– Create games where the formal mechanics are about climbing a Create games where the formal mechanics are about climbing a

ladder of success.ladder of success.E.g., mechanics simulate not only the projection of power, but E.g., mechanics simulate not only the projection of power, but concepts like duty, love, honor, responsibility.concepts like duty, love, honor, responsibility.

– Create games that are about the loneliness of being at the top.Create games that are about the loneliness of being at the top.– Sample TitlesSample Titles

Hamlet: The GameHamlet: The GameWorking for the ManWorking for the ManSim GhandiSim GhandiAgainst RacisimAgainst RacisimCustody BattleCustody Battle

ExampleExampleYour goal is the overall survival of your tribe.Your goal is the overall survival of your tribe.You gain power to act based on how many people you control.You gain power to act based on how many people you control.You gain power to heal yourself based on how many friends you You gain power to heal yourself based on how many friends you havehaveFriends tend to fall away as you gain power.Friends tend to fall away as you gain power.So:So:– Being at the top and having no allies is a choice.Being at the top and having no allies is a choice.– Being lower in the status hierarchy is also a choiceBeing lower in the status hierarchy is also a choice

Perhaps more effectivePerhaps more effectiveFeedback:Feedback:– Reward players for sacrificing themselves for the good of the tribe.Reward players for sacrificing themselves for the good of the tribe.– If they are captured during the game, they may no longer act directly but If they are captured during the game, they may no longer act directly but

still score points based on the actions of the players they used to rule.still score points based on the actions of the players they used to rule.– This could represent their legacy.This could represent their legacy.

What is Artificial IntelligenceWhat is Artificial Intelligence

Can Machines Have Minds?Can Machines Have Minds?

Two Types of GoalsTwo Types of Goals

AI and Computer ScienceAI and Computer Science

Examples of AI ResearchExamples of AI Research

Other AI Research AreasOther AI Research Areas

AI is AI is InherentlyInherently Multi-Disciplinary Multi-Disciplinary

Different Strokes for Different AI Different Strokes for Different AI FolksFolks

AI ProgrammingAI Programming

ACM Computing ClassificationACM Computing ClassificationI.2.0 General

Cognitive simulation Philosophical foundations

I.2.1 Applications and Expert Systems Cartography Games Industrial automation Law Medicine and science Natural language interfaces Office automation

I.2.2 Automatic Programming Automatic analysis of algorithms Program modification Program synthesis Program transformation Program verification

ACM Computing ClassificationACM Computing Classification

•I.2.3 Deduction and Theorem Proving •Answer/reason extraction •Deduction (e.g., natural, rule-based) •Inference engines      •Logic programming •Mathematical induction •Metatheory •Nonmonotonic reasoning and belief revision •Resolution •Uncertainty, ``fuzzy,'' and probabilistic reasoning

ACM Computing ClassificationACM Computing Classification

•I.2.4 Knowledge Representation Formalisms and Methods •Frames and scripts •Modal logic      •Predicate logic •Relation systems •Representation languages •Representations (procedural and rule-based) •Semantic networks •Temporal logic     

•I.2.5 Programming Languages and Software •Expert system tools and techniques

ACM Computing ClassificationACM Computing Classification

I.2.6 Learning Analogies Concept learning Connectionism and neural nets Induction Knowledge acquisition Language acquisition Parameter learning

ACM Computing ClassificationACM Computing Classification

I.2.7 Natural Language Processing Discourse Language generation Language models Language parsing and understanding Machine translation Speech recognition and synthesis Text analysis

ACM Computing ClassificationACM Computing Classification

•I.2.8 Problem Solving, Control Methods, and Search •Backtracking •Control theory      •Dynamic programming •Graph and tree search strategies •Heuristic methods •Plan execution, formation, and generation •Scheduling     

ACM Computing ClassificationACM Computing Classification

•I.2.9 Robotics •Autonomous vehicles      •Commercial robots and applications      •Kinematics and dynamics      •Manipulators •Operator interfaces      •Propelling mechanisms •Sensors •Workcell organization and planning     

ACM Computing ClassificationACM Computing Classification•I.2.10 Vision and Scene Understanding

•3D/stereo scene analysis      •Architecture and control structures •Intensity, color, photometry, and thresholding •Modeling and recovery of physical attributes •Motion •Perceptual reasoning •Representations, data structures, and transforms •Shape •Texture •Video analysis     

ACM Computing ClassificationACM Computing Classification

•I.2.11 Distributed Artificial Intelligence •Coherence and coordination •Intelligent agents      •Languages and structures •Multiagent systems     

Quality bars of the near-futureQuality bars of the near-futureProcedurally generated contentProcedurally generated content““Emergent” behaviors, collisionsEmergent” behaviors, collisionsBelievable charactersBelievable characters100x physics100x physicsPortable avatars, persistent assetsPortable avatars, persistent assetsCommunitiesCommunitiesEconomies and moneyEconomies and moneyCamera POV and LOD drives gameplay Camera POV and LOD drives gameplay Collaborative and dynamic intelligencesCollaborative and dynamic intelligences

AI could be a “killer app” feature of AI could be a “killer app” feature of next gennext gen

Characters:Characters:– AwarenessAwareness– MemoryMemory– Complex motives, simple commandsComplex motives, simple commands– 100x RAM allocation100x RAM allocation

Must be co-developed with animators!Must be co-developed with animators!– Game AI must be acted out and seenGame AI must be acted out and seen– Expressions & gesturesExpressions & gestures

The Madden Test The Madden Test (of game AI)(of game AI)

1985: “That’s not football!”1985: “That’s not football!”1990: “I’d fire the coach!”1990: “I’d fire the coach!”1995: “What are those guys doing?”1995: “What are those guys doing?”2000: “Rookie, you’re cut!”2000: “Rookie, you’re cut!”2005: “That’s the way I designed it!”2005: “That’s the way I designed it!”

What EA learned from John MaddenWhat EA learned from John Madden

The Oakland Raiders playbookThe Oakland Raiders playbook– Matchup strategyMatchup strategy– 5 zones of field-position5 zones of field-position

One Knee Equals Two FeetOne Knee Equals Two Feet– Player ratingsPlayer ratings– All-Madden teamAll-Madden team

Madden Football GenesisMadden Football Genesis23%23%

Madden 97 PlaystationMadden 97 Playstation54%54%

Madden 2001 Playstation 2Madden 2001 Playstation 263%63%

Madden 2005 PS2Madden 2005 PS283%83%

AI is AI is not not critical…yetcritical…yet

AI cited for 6/20 top PS2 games.AI cited for 6/20 top PS2 games.– Metal Gear, NFL x 4, SoccerMetal Gear, NFL x 4, Soccer

AI cited for 3/10 top PC games.AI cited for 3/10 top PC games.– Half Life x 2, CivilizationHalf Life x 2, Civilization

When AI is applauded…When AI is applauded…

Appropriate npc behaviorsAppropriate npc behaviors– Dynamic adjustmentsDynamic adjustments– Satisfying mistakesSatisfying mistakes– Coordinated attacks/retreatsCoordinated attacks/retreats

Challenging opponentChallenging opponent

When AI is punished…When AI is punished…

Too easyToo easy– No coverNo cover

Too dumbToo dumb– Low awarenessLow awareness– ““Deer in headlights”Deer in headlights”

Observation #1

Maximize the ratio of perceived intelligence to

internal complexity.

SHRDLU - Winograd

-Put a red pyramid on a green block.>OK-Pick up a blue block>OK

-Men are all alike. >IN WHAT WAY?

-They're always bugging us about something or other. >CAN YOU THINK OF A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE?

-Well, my boyfriend made me come here. >YOUR BOYFRIEND MADE YOU COME HERE

-He says I'm depressed much of the time. >I AM SORRY TO HEAR YOU ARE DEPRESSED

-It's true. I am unhappy >DO YOU THINK COMING HERE WILL HELP YOU NOT TO BE UNHAPPY

Eliza - Weizenbaum

SHRDLU

-Men are all alike. >IN WHAT WAY?

-They're always bugging us about something or other. >CAN YOU THINK OF A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE?

-Well, my boyfriend made me come here. >YOUR BOYFRIEND MADE YOU COME HERE

-He says I'm depressed much of the time. >I AM SORRY TO HEAR YOU ARE DEPRESSED

-It's true. I am unhappy >DO YOU THINK COMING HERE WILL HELP YOU NOT TO BE UNHAPPY

Eliza

SHRDLU

-Men are all alike. >IN WHAT WAY?

-They're always bugging us about something or other. >CAN YOU THINK OF A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE?

-Well, my boyfriend made me come here. >YOUR BOYFRIEND MADE YOU COME HERE

-He says I'm depressed much of the time. >I AM SORRY TO HEAR YOU ARE DEPRESSED

-It's true. I am unhappy >DO YOU THINK COMING HERE WILL HELP YOU NOT TO BE UNHAPPY

Eliza

PerceivedComplexity

ActualComplexity

5

1

1

5

Observation #2

The player will build an internal model of your system.If you don’t help them build it, they’ll probably build the wrong one.

Observation #3

The flow of information about a system has a huge impact on the players perception of it’s intelligence.

Observation #4

From the players point of view there is a fine line between complex behavior and random behavior.Visibility of causal chains usually makes the difference.

Observation #5

Mimicking human intelligence and maximizing the intelligence of an artificial system are 2 very different tasks.

Observation #6

There are many applications of AI in games that don’t involve Opponents, Avatars or even human-like intelligence.

Meta AI

Peer AI

Sub AI

Meta AI

Peer AI

Sub AI Simulation

Agents

Experience

- Behavior- Opponents/Avatars- Complex Player Model

- Physics- Tactile- Intuitive Player Model

- Information Flow- Pacing- Simple Player Model

Meta

Peer

Sub

Sub

Peer

Meta

Peer

Sub

Meta

SimCity The Sims Spore

MetaPeerSub

MetaPeerSub

MetaPeerSub

Observation #7

Building a system that collects and reflects natural intelligence might be easier than replicating that intelligence.

45

Observation #8

Building a robust, internal model of the player can have huge potential value.

From the player’s model of the computer…to…the computer’s model of the player

Player Story ComputerUnderstanding

AdaptiveMapping

ComedyRomanceHorrorMysteryAction

AI Research AI Research & IE Practice& IE Practice

IE has strong interest for systems that think, IE has strong interest for systems that think, behave and interact like people.behave and interact like people.– Autonomous agents as supporting cast roles.Autonomous agents as supporting cast roles.

Virtual Worlds:Virtual Worlds:– NPCsNPCs

Real WorldsReal Worlds– CompanionsCompanions– CollaboratorsCollaborators– OpponentsOpponents

Good news for AI research community.Good news for AI research community.– No simple non-AI engineering solution. No simple non-AI engineering solution.

Some Daunting ChallengesSome Daunting ChallengesSignificant difference in the rate of development in AI Significant difference in the rate of development in AI and IE.and IE.– Progress in AI is slow – slower than ever.Progress in AI is slow – slower than ever.– IE experiencing explosive growth in IE experiencing explosive growth in bothboth academia academia andand industry. industry.

Slow progress of AI will Slow progress of AI will notnot keep pace with academic keep pace with academic and industrial interests.and industrial interests.E.g., autonomous virtual animated characters.E.g., autonomous virtual animated characters.– Graphics researchers have provided animated character bodies Graphics researchers have provided animated character bodies

approaching realism in visualization and animation.approaching realism in visualization and animation.– Capacities for autonomous planning, control, conversation, and Capacities for autonomous planning, control, conversation, and

interaction are barely passable for most IE applications. interaction are barely passable for most IE applications.

Industry Can’t WaitIndustry Can’t Wait

IE has had to rely on fully scripted IE has had to rely on fully scripted interactions with human players to support interactions with human players to support complex interactions.complex interactions.– Exception: Basic CombatException: Basic CombatOne approach:One approach:– Have supporting cast members played by real Have supporting cast members played by real

humans.humans.– In many ways, the rise of multiplayer and In many ways, the rise of multiplayer and

massively multiplayer IE forms has greatly massively multiplayer IE forms has greatly reduced industry need for human-level AI.reduced industry need for human-level AI.

Social PreferencesSocial Preferences

Interacting with other humans in a Interacting with other humans in a distributed online environment might be distributed online environment might be preferable for many.preferable for many.Result is increased interest in research in Result is increased interest in research in sociology and social psychology.sociology and social psychology.– Social network analysis.Social network analysis.– Personality profiling.Personality profiling.– Perhaps more important than the fidelity of Perhaps more important than the fidelity of

NPCs.NPCs.

Advice to AI CommunityAdvice to AI Community

Be happy that some of the pressure is Be happy that some of the pressure is being relieved!being relieved!Broaden the scope of your expertise to Broaden the scope of your expertise to include elements of the social sciences.include elements of the social sciences.

Follow the Money!Follow the Money!

IE Industry probably has no intention of IE Industry probably has no intention of funding funding basicbasic AI research. AI research.Traditional flow of software content:Traditional flow of software content:– Small developers Small developers – Filtered through hardware manufacturers Filtered through hardware manufacturers – Large publishers.Large publishers.None of these has incentive to support None of these has incentive to support individual basic research projects.individual basic research projects.– Not for industry-research collaboration either.Not for industry-research collaboration either.

Follow the Money!Follow the Money!

Developers probably have most to gain. But ..Developers probably have most to gain. But ..– Tight deadlines.Tight deadlines.– Slim profit margins.Slim profit margins.– Clash with academic models of Clash with academic models of high riskhigh risk investigation. investigation.

IdeasIdeas more likely to cross the divide than code. more likely to cross the divide than code.– Expect to see increased interest in academic Expect to see increased interest in academic

prototypesprototypes..– Implies importance of research funding for prototypes.Implies importance of research funding for prototypes.– Where will this funding come from?Where will this funding come from?– Wait (!!) – it is the Wait (!!) – it is the cavalry to the rescuecavalry to the rescue ... ...

Necessity is the Mother of InventionNecessity is the Mother of Invention

The military has been the most consistent source of AI The military has been the most consistent source of AI research funding throughout its entire history.research funding throughout its entire history.Increasing reliance on automation and information Increasing reliance on automation and information technology superiority.technology superiority.Steadily increasing interest in IE.Steadily increasing interest in IE.– E.g., computer game technology for militaryE.g., computer game technology for military

SimulationsSimulationsTrainingTrainingRecruitmentRecruitment

Existing Existing comfort levelcomfort level with AI research has made it with AI research has made it easier for military IE projects to have significant AI easier for military IE projects to have significant AI components.components.And the happy news is ..And the happy news is ..– the military is heavily into the tradition of the research prototype!the military is heavily into the tradition of the research prototype!

A Couple of SuggestionsA Couple of SuggestionsAI should take advantage of the reduced need AI should take advantage of the reduced need for human-level AI brought about by increased for human-level AI brought about by increased interest in multiplayer and massively multiplayer interest in multiplayer and massively multiplayer systems.systems.– Use research-grade AI systems in the automation of Use research-grade AI systems in the automation of

supporting cast member roles that most humans supporting cast member roles that most humans would not find entertaining to play.would not find entertaining to play.

Computational linguisticsComputational linguistics has been a notable has been a notable exception in the slow pace of AI research.exception in the slow pace of AI research.– Fueled by empirical and statistical methods.Fueled by empirical and statistical methods.– Few IE researchers have capitalized on the potential Few IE researchers have capitalized on the potential

offered by current technology.offered by current technology.

A Final WordA Final Word

If anything you have heard today has If anything you have heard today has upset or discouraged you in any way, upset or discouraged you in any way, remember remember The Guide’sThe Guide’s most important bit most important bit of advice:of advice:

Don’t Panic!Don’t Panic!