ScienceEtonnante

L'intelligence artificielle dans les jeux vidéo

The speaker, having worked in the video game industry for seven years, was initially surprised by the use of the term "AI" within this field. While typically associated with neural networks, deep learning, and language models, in video games, "AI" generally refers to the systems managing the behaviors of non-player characters (NPCs) such as enemies, allies, and passersby. Developers primarily use techniques for these NPCs that differ significantly from modern artificial intelligence, which is the focus of this discussion. Before delving into video game AI, it's helpful to understand the historical context of artificial intelligence. AI, almost as old as computer science itself, aims to enable machines to perform cognitive tasks typically done by humans. As early as the 1950s, with the advent of conditional programming (if-then statements), rudimentary programs could simulate decision-making behaviors. This involved mapping human decision processes and replicating them in code, leading to what is known as symbolic AI. In symbolic AI, everything the machine is meant to do is explicitly programmed or can be linked to precise instructions, often with the help of domain experts. A famous example is the Eliza chatbot from 1966, which could simulate conversations by analyzing human input and reformulating questions based on precise rules.