What are the advantages and disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence? Does the technology facilitate game development or is it proving to be troublesome for game developers? In this blog, we will break down the various pros and cons of the AI technology.
One of the most trending technologies of 2024 is Artificial Intelligence. It has taken the technological space by storm and has been pathbreaking for various industries, and the gaming industry is no exception. AI-based games have revolutionalized the way we interact, play, and develop games.
The role of AI in game development has seen a massive paradigm shift. Nowadays, AI technology is being used to create more personalized and engaging games, intelligent game mechanics, and tailored content for users.
However, with all the opportunities offered by Artificial Intelligence, various challenges must also be addressed.
Let’s dive in.
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AI in game development is used to create dynamic & personalized experiences through NPCs (Non-playable Characters) that behave in a humanly & intelligent way. AI is the technology that determines an NPCs behaviour in the game world.
While Artificial Intelligence has been used in games for a long time, it has been exploring new avenues in recent times. AI has been at the forefront of innovation in game development. It is responsible for the creation of dynamic & adaptive game worlds, adaptive NPCs, etc.
Artificial Intelligence provides a plethora of benefits in game development but certain challenges shouldn’t be ignored when dealing with AI technology. Keep reading to learn more!
The advantages of AI are plenty in the gaming industry. Let’s take a look at some of the pros of AI in the gaming industry.
Developing a game is a time-taking task and requires the collective effort of a team of developers, programmers, testers, etc. It can take several years to develop an AAA game from scratch. Moreover, the latest game titles require post-launch support and regular maintenance and updates.
AI technology can help with several verticals of game development, significantly reducing the need for human labour. Cost is another important factor in game development and efficient use of Artificial Intelligence can assist in reducing operational costs in the long run.
Optimizing the game development process is an ongoing challenge for developers. Annual releases are the perfect example of this. The costs involved in developing a game within an estimated delivery date are also high.
Artificial Intelligence will assist developers in meeting project deadlines by optimizing the process. AI automates several aspects of game development, from initial development to customer service.
The term ‘Human Error’ comes from the fact that humans make mistakes from time to time. One of the most common causes of buggy games, delayed projects, and flop games is human errors. However, this doesn’t apply to computer systems. One wrong code can affect the entire process and can be detrimental to the final product.
AI can be extremely useful for error reduction. Artificial Intelligence systems can be used to look for irregular data and errors in the code. It can go through thousands of lines of code and figure out the problem in seconds.
AI can be used to analyse trillions of terabytes of data in minutes. Pattern recognition models can also be used to identify patterns and form accurate prediction models.
Especially in online games, the amount of data that has to be processed will be monumental. AI can access and analyse that data while providing valuable insights for game developers within minutes. It takes efficiency to the next level which can never be achieved by manual human labour.
A human can work 7 to 8 hours a day depending on their capacity, Not to mention, the breaks and the week offs required to maintain a healthy personal and social life. Humans require regular breaks to maintain maximum productivity.
However, that is not the case with Artificial Intelligence as AI can work 24×7 without the need for any breaks. AI technology can be used to streamline the development process and maintain stable productivity round-the-clock.
In the game development process, there are various repetitive tasks that can be automated with AI. Boring and mundane tasks can also be taken care of by AI models, saving up more time for game developers to focus their resources on other essential domains.
These are some of the most essential advantages of AI in game development. Now. let’s go over the challenges and disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence.
With recent technological advancements, AI technology has evolved beyond recognition. In 2024, Chess Game AIs can easily defeat the world’s best chess player. The AI in Starcraft 2 is so advanced that none of the professional e-sports players can even compete with it.
If left unchecked, AI can outsmart humans in several verticals. There will be no competition if strict parameters aren’t placed on this technology. Also, AI tends to exploit every logic-based system it is introduced to.
Because of its efficiency, AI can replace humans in various jobs like quality assurance, testing, maintenance, and error reporting. AI can perform these tasks with better efficiency and productivity than any human.
While the use of AI can lead to increase demand for skilled labour, it is slowly killing the livelihood of unskilled labours. Any decisions on the complete implementation of AI should be made with high discretion.
While AI is unnaturally productive in content creation, the quality of that content often feels robotic and lacks the human touch. Procedural Content Generation methods can effectively create a large game world but that content is derived from the idea of developers.
The infinite game world in ‘No Man’s Sky’ is a great example of PCG generated world.
Since AI is a computer system, it is prone to technical malfunctions. There are a variety of reasons an AI system can break down and sometimes the solution is beyond the control of the developers. Unexpected external factors are always a cause for concern and often times than not, it can greatly hamper the development process.
AI is growing at an exponential rate. It is now primarily used in game development and for the enhancement of existing games. That being said, there are several advantages and disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence in the gaming industry. With proper and careful implementation, AI can be a boon for game development. However, the unrestricted use of AI can be detrimental in the long run. There’s no telling what the future holds for AI, It’s an exciting technology that has the potential to transform several industries.
If you are interested in developing AI-based games and are looking for an AI game development company, contact BR Softech.
Ans. AI is used to create dynamic personalized experiences by enhancing the learning capacity of NPCs, building dynamic and adaptive worlds, and challenging opponents. It is also used in game development to automate repetitive tasks and analyse large volumes of data.
Ans. Typically, the Min-Max algorithm is used for game playing in AI like Chess, Checkers, GO, and other two-player games.
Ans. While AI offers plenty of benefits in gaming, it can pose several technical challenges. Moreover, it also lacks creativity and human touch in generating large game worlds.
