Google's DeepMind AI unit struck a deal with Blizzard Entertainment Inc to develop Artificial Intelligence software that can play "StarCraft II" expertly.
The partnership was announced during Sunday's BlizzCon at Anahaim, ZDNet reported. According to DeepMind they are working with the creators of the sci-fi game to come up with an API that has the capacity that gives programmic control over each unit and the full game. DeepMind will create machine-learning software for the game.
Earlier this year, DeepMind created a software that beats "Go", which is the leading human player strategy game in the world, Bloomberg reported. The company, however, is still far from creating a software that can play "StarCraft" expertly, according to Oriol Vinalys, a research scientist from DeepMind. He said that "Starcraf"t captured their attention, because it is the closest to simulating a real world messiness.
Starcraft requires its player to have sharp memory, long-term planning skills, and must have the ability to turn plans into new information. The machine-learning system must have all these attributes to beat "Starcraft II", he said.
DeepMind and Blizzard are also collaborating to come up with "curriculum scenarios," which are ladders that has tasks that gets more complex in every level. This lets AI researchers can develop algorithms for the game.
DeepMind said that video games are the best platform to develop AI. DeepMind has a vision to push beyond boundaries, which is why they are developing programs that has the ability to solve complex problem automatically.
"Starcraft" is played in real-time through the internet. Each player must choose a race that has their own strengths and weaknesses. There is an in-game economy, where players should minerals to build a colony and defeat its enemies. The player has limited vision on the opponents units. This means DeepMind should come up with a machine-learning system that can play in an environment that is always in flux.
