AI Meets Grand Theft Auto

The thought of interacting with artificial intelligence (AI) is chilling and one I have difficulty grasping.

While I'm fascinated by the work of inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil and what he has to say about the role AI will play in our society, I'm not so sure it's a place I want to go. Kurzweil says that by 2029 (20 years from now, when I'll be in my mid-60s), sufficient computations to simulate the entire human brain, which he estimates at about 1016 (10 million billion) calculations per second, will cost about a dollar.

"By that time, intelligent machines will combine the subtle and supple skills that humans now excel in (essentially our powers of pattern recognition) with ways in which machines are already superior, such as remembering trillions of facts accurately, searching quickly through vast databases, and downloading skills and knowledge," Kurzweil wrote.

What got me thinking about computers, machines and AI issues? A story that I read this weekend about an AI avatar that interacts in a controlled computer environment.

I wondered about eventual congenial interactions with AI inside a three-dimensional projected world, such as one with virtual subway stations or city streets, and much like the computer-generated world of Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV).

What might AI be like if it were introduced in a game such as GTA? It'd be like AI meets GTA, literally with a one-two punch, high-kick and a couple of shotgun blasts for good measure. Do you want to engage in hand-to-hand combat with your AI avatar in a virtual city?

GTA IV, which collected more than $500 million in global receipts after its first week on the market in early May, has sold more than 6 million copies to become the highest grossing entertainment launch in history, according to Reuters. Initial sales topped $300 million for last year's violent "Halo 3" video game from Microsoft. Sales of GTA exceeded Hollywood's film debut of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," with its share of swashbuckling, high-seas violence; the film garnered more than $406 million in its first six days on the big screen. In the latest GTA escapade, the main character Niko, an avatar, is cast as an Eastern European immigrant who runs drugs, shoots at police officers and kills rivals. Critics hailed the game as a brutal and satirical masterpiece, Reuters reported.

According to published reports, the story features two possible finale scenarios. The player can choose to have Niko get revenge on a character named Dimitri or make a deal with him which looks to spare a life.

If the player chooses to seek revenge, Niko ambushes Dimitri on his ship while he is supervising a delivery. Think about it. In an AI environment, you could fight alongside Niko as he kills Dimitri after a firefight in the hull of the ship. Or, you could participate in a drive-by shooting, killing character Kate McReary outside of a church. Nice touch. Ah, the virtual world is such a pleasant place to exist...

With AI technology, instead of sitting at the game console, you might be able to literally transport inside the game's confines, but without the reality of pain, suffering, punishment or any other ill-effects of battle. Virtual fighting, killing and death could become even more entertaining than it is today.

And don't forget about the kiddies. They too can participate in virtual warfare. Think of a virtual Chronicles of Narnia. (After this weekend's successful showing at the box office, with its share of epic battles, I had to write about it, and I'm sure the video game is already in development.) With AI, you (or your 9-year-old, for that matter) could be in a three-dimensional, computer-generated world charging on horseback, wielding your sword toward King Miraz's army. You could be screaming expletives at King Miraz, the AI, and he might even "kill" you on the battlefield.

Sound interesting?

Maybe it's farfetched, but the thought of an avatar or AI putting an "end" to my life, even if only in cyberspace is chilling.