Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
starcraft-ii-deepmind

DeepMind Will Build AI Agents to Play StarCraft II

Think you can beat Google's AI at StarCraft II?
This article is over 8 years old and may contain outdated information

Artificial intelligences will soon play StarCraft II. Speaking at Blizzard’s Blizzcon 2016 in Anaheim, Calif. event today, Google DeepMind Senior Research Scientist Oriol Vinyals announced plans to open up the real-time strategy game to AI researchers around the globe.

Recommended Videos

Calling the initiative “a dream come true,” Vinyals said it would result in scientists building and training AI agents to play StarCraft II. The hope is that these AIs become so proficient at playing the game that they will be able to coach real, living players and perhaps even challenge esports champions in matches.

Blizzard President Mike Morhaime said that he was “so proud” that [Vinyals] and his team would be working with the developer on this AI program.

Vinyals promised that the research and development that come as a result of the partnership would not be restricted to just in-game usage. “These advancements we make in StarCraft II might help us with real-world problems,” he suggested. Among other things, Vinyals hopes there will be scientific and energy industry applications for Starcraft’s AI players.

Such applications would bring the partnership into alignment with DeepMind’s reason for existing. Vinyals said that the “mission at DeepMind is to solve intelligence and use it to make the world a better place” and cited games as a medium for helping Google achieve as much.

Vinyals himself is a lifelong gamer and huge fan of StarCraft and World of Warcraft. In fact, while studying for his Ph.D at Berkeley, he created an independent AI dubbed Overmind that was capable of playing StarCaft’s Brood War expansion.

Before exiting the stage, Vinyals promised that more details on Blizzard and DeepMind’s partnership would be released tomorrow.

MORE NEWS


Twinfinite is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Nick Santangelo
Nick Santangelo
Nick has been a gamer since the 8-bit days and has been reporting on the games industry since 2011. Don't interrupt him while he's questing through an RPG or desperately clinging to hope against all reason that his Philly sports teams will win something.