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