The artificial intelligence (AI) of the American company OpenAI has learned to play the computer game Minecraft. A neural network was able to do this, something no artificial intelligence had been able to do before.
Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are developing at breakneck speed. While only a few years ago computers had problems solving complex tasks, AI is now even partial better than man. The most recent examples are chess tournaments and the board game Go, which computers have already won over humans.
AI dominates the game mechanics of Minecraft
Video has done what no artificial intelligence has ever done before. The OpenAI system traversed the world of Micraft, swimming, hunting and cooking the obtained meat. But the way there was not easy at all. Because the computer first had to learn the open game world and the necessary creativity.
To do this, OpenAI paid the employees of an external service provider $20 per hour. Tasks included uploading Minecraft videos and related keystrokes. Because the videos available online usually only show what is possible in Minecraft and not how it works. 4,500 hours and $160,000 later, enough data was available.
Previous approaches have failed
Learning the game mechanics of Minecraft is by no means considered a new task. Three years ago, at MineRL, dozens of computer scientists competed to solve a task: the AI was supposed to mine a diamond in the game. 660 people participated, no one won.
It should come as no surprise to many that a PC can now play Minecraft. Still, solving the task is considered a big step for research. Machines should also learn human behavior in the coming years because humans are not based on logic alone. This is considered a big challenge.
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