ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Machine learning in video games

Okay kiddo, have you ever played a video game with a computer-controlled character? Maybe in a racing game or a shooting game? Well, sometimes those characters can do really cool or smart things, like dodging your attack or making a tricky turn on the racetrack. But how do they know what to do?

That's where machine learning comes in. It's like giving the computer-controlled character a brain that can learn from its experiences. Just like you learn from your experiences playing a game, the character can learn from playing the game too.

But instead of using their eyes and ears like you do, the character will use data and algorithms to make decisions. Data is like information, and algorithms are like step-by-step instructions for the computer.

For example, let's say the character is in a shooting game and they keep getting hit from a certain direction. The machine learning algorithm can analyze that data and figure out that they need to start dodging or moving to avoid getting hit again.

Over time, as the character plays more and more, the machine learning algorithm can get better and better at making decisions. It's like the character is getting smarter and can do more things in the game.

So that's machine learning in video games – it's like giving a computer-controlled character a brain that can learn from its mistakes and experiences to make smarter decisions. Cool, huh?