Companies around the world are still figuring out how to integrate artificial intelligence into their business models. For some industries, such as music and comics, the AI boom already poses a threat to business, thanks to copyright infringement issues. But there is one sector where the benefits from the AI boom appear straightforward: gaming.
AI has played a role in the gaming industry long before the frenzy of recent years. In early 2020, Sony’s technology had already been used to create an AI agent that could beat the best drivers in the world at the PlayStation game Gran Turismo.
But the AI being added today to the latest games will have a much more direct impact on the bottom lines of gaming companies, slashing the fat budgets that have historically been required for the development of every new game. Gamers want high-quality, hyper-realistic visuals and immersive gaming experiences. That requires extensive time and resources, and multimillion-dollar budgets for game developers and creators.