ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Game artificial intelligence

Game artificial intelligence, or game AI for short, is like having a smart friend who plays a video game with you. This smart friend is actually a computer program that helps control the behavior of the non-player characters (NPCs) in the game. NPCs are characters in the game that are controlled by the computer, not by a human player like you.

The game AI program helps the NPCs make decisions on their own, like whether to attack you as the player, or run away from danger. They can also help the NPCs move around the game world and interact with objects in the environment, like picking up a weapon or opening a door.

Game AI programs use different techniques to make NPCs seem smarter and more realistic. For example, some game AIs use pathfinding algorithms to help NPCs navigate around obstacles in the game. This means that they can find the shortest route to get from one point to another without running into anything. Other game AIs use decision trees, which are like flowcharts that help NPCs make decisions based on certain criteria. For example, an NPC might decide to attack if the player gets too close, or to run away if its health is low.

Game AI can also be used to give NPCs personalities. For example, an NPC might be programmed to be more aggressive and attack the player more often, or be more cautious and try to avoid danger. This can make the game feel more varied and dynamic, as each NPC behaves differently.

In summary, game AI is like a smart friend who helps control the behavior of NPCs in a video game. It uses techniques like pathfinding and decision trees to make the NPCs seem smarter and more realistic, and can even give them personalities.