why vr needs - much! - better ai | wendelin reich

Why VR needs – much! - better AI

Wendelin ReichCEO, Virtual BeingsFebruary 8, 2017

Let's start with a quote

Let's start with a quote

Kim LibreriCTO, Epic Games

Let's start with a quote

Kim LibreriCTO, Epic Games

“The next frontier for virtual reality is artificial intelligence”

(Interview with Variety, 03/16/2016)

What is “great” game AI?

What is “great” game AI? Simple answer: coherence with player's cognitive expectations

What is “great” game AI? Simple answer: coherence with player's cognitive expectations Knowing what these are is very hard

What is “great” game AI? Simple answer: coherence with player's cognitive expectations Knowing what these are is very hard

What is “great” game AI? Simple answer: coherence with player's cognitive expectations Knowing what these are is an intuitive skill of every normal person

What is “great” game AI? Simple answer: coherence with player's cognitive expectations Knowing what these are is an intuitive skill of every normal person

Example 1:Incompetent security bots from Bioshock

What is “great” game AI? Simple answer: coherence with player's cognitive expectations Knowing what these are is an intuitive skill of every normal person

Example 1:Incompetent security bots from Bioshock

Example 2:Helpful papery beings from Journey

VR & AI – the best examples

VR & AI – the best examples

Gary the Gull

VR & AI – the best examples

Gary the Gull Resident Evil 7

VR & AI – the best examples

Gary the Gull Gnomes & Goblins

Resident Evil 7

VR & AI – the best examples

Gary the Gull Gnomes & Goblins

Summer Lesson

Resident Evil 7

VR & AI – the best examples

Gary the Gull Gnomes & Goblins

Summer Lesson

Resident Evil 7 Fantastic Beasts VR

The catch

The catch

These games / demos are based on a trick.

The catch

These games / demos are based on a trick.

Dominatingthe Initiative

It's called

The trick works when...

The trick works when...

… your characters are extremely interesting and the interaction brief

The trick works when...

… or you actually want to dominate… your characters are extremely interesting and the interaction brief

Reasons why VR needs awesome AI

Reasons why VR needs awesome AI(PS: You don't need reasons if you believe that VR “drives towards realism”)

Reasons why VR needs awesome AI

1. Bad AI is more visible in VR

(PS: You don't need reasons if you believe that VR “drives towards realism”)

Reasons why VR needs awesome AI

a. Immersion / presence

1. Bad AI is more visible in VR

(PS: You don't need reasons if you believe that VR “drives towards realism”)

Reasons why VR needs awesome AI

a. Immersion / presenceb. Lack of player movement1. Bad AI is more

visible in VR

(PS: You don't need reasons if you believe that VR “drives towards realism”)

Reasons why VR needs awesome AI

a. Immersion / presence

c. Proximity / inspectability of assetsb. Lack of player movement1. Bad AI is more

visible in VR

(PS: You don't need reasons if you believe that VR “drives towards realism”)

Reasons why VR needs awesome AI

a. Immersion / presence

c. Proximity / inspectability of assetsd. Slower time-scale

b. Lack of player movement1. Bad AI is more visible in VR

(PS: You don't need reasons if you believe that VR “drives towards realism”)

Reasons why VR needs awesome AI

a. Immersion / presence

c. Proximity / inspectability of assetsd. Slower time-scale

b. Lack of player movement1. Bad AI is more visible in VR

2. Lack of great AI will be artistically limiting

(PS: You don't need reasons if you believe that VR “drives towards realism”)

Reasons why VR needs awesome AI

a. Immersion / presence

c. Proximity / inspectability of assetsd. Slower time-scale

b. Lack of player movement1. Bad AI is more visible in VR

2. Lack of great AI will be artistically limiting

3. AI will be necessary to seduce a so-far ignored demographic….

(PS: You don't need reasons if you believe that VR “drives towards realism”)

Which target demographic could that be?

Which target demographic could that be?

A look at the research

A look at the research

A look at the research

A look at the researchMain dislike:

A look at the researchMain dislike:

Lack of “rich and sophisticated social

interactions with virtual characters”

A look at the researchMain dislike:

Lack of “rich and sophisticated social

interactions with virtual characters”

This was more important than “negative gender

roles” or “violence”

Which games are already in this niche?

Which games are already in this niche?● Representative study

from U. of Turku reveals 7 player types

Which games are already in this niche?● Representative study

from U. of Turku reveals 7 player types

● One of them, the “Companion”, matches this niche:

Which games are already in this niche?● Representative study

from U. of Turku reveals 7 player types

● One of them, the “Companion”, matches this niche:

14% of population

Which games are already in this niche?● Representative study

from U. of Turku reveals 7 player types

● One of them, the “Companion”, matches this niche:

14% of population 81% female, 39 y.o.

Which games are already in this niche?● Representative study

from U. of Turku reveals 7 player types

● One of them, the “Companion”, matches this niche:

14% of population 81% female, 39 y.o. plays mostly one game...

Which games are already in this niche?● Representative study

from U. of Turku reveals 7 player types

● One of them, the “Companion”, matches this niche:

14% of population 81% female, 39 y.o. plays mostly one game... The Sims!

In other words, for VR this niche is still...

… a blue ocean

Recommended reading: Mauborgne & Kim, Blue Ocean Strategy, 2005 Thiel, From Zero to One, 2014

So … what if AI tech was not an obstacle?

So … what if AI tech was not an obstacle?

(Imagine!)

How do you create better AI for VR?

How do you create better AI for VR?

Easy! You only have to solve 3 problems

How do you create better AI for VR?

1. The vision problemEasy! You only have to solve 3 problems

How do you create better AI for VR?

1. The vision problemEasy! You only have to solve 3 problems 2. The UX problem

How do you create better AI for VR?

1. The vision problemEasy! You only have to solve 3 problems 2. The UX problem

3. The tech problem

Some final suggestions

Some final suggestions

1. Treat AI as “high-risk high-reward”

Some final suggestions

1. Treat AI as “high-risk high-reward”

2. Must be driven by senior management

Some final suggestions

1. Treat AI as “high-risk high-reward”

2. Must be driven by senior management

3. Develop a vision & strategy for engaging players via AI & UX

Some final suggestions

1. Treat AI as “high-risk high-reward”

2. Must be driven by senior management

3. Develop a vision & strategy for engaging players via AI & UX

4. Know your target audience

Some final suggestions

1. Treat AI as “high-risk high-reward”

2. Must be driven by senior management

3. Develop a vision & strategy for engaging players via AI & UX

4. Know your target audience

5. Don't bet big, bet long-term

Some final suggestions

1. Treat AI as “high-risk high-reward”

2. Must be driven by senior management

3. Develop a vision & strategy for engaging players via AI & UX

4. Know your target audience

5. Don't bet big, bet long-term

6. Invest in R&D, and not just tech

Some final suggestions

1. Treat AI as “high-risk high-reward”

2. Must be driven by senior management

3. Develop a vision & strategy for engaging players via AI & UX

4. Know your target audience

5. Don't bet big, bet long-term

6. Invest in R&D, and not just tech

7. Dream!

Thank you!Questions? Wendelin Reich

CEO, Virtual Beings

@wendelinreichwr@virtualbeings.co