Artificial Intelligence(and Games)

Jonathan Schaeffer

Department of Computing Science

University of Alberta

jonathan@ualberta.ca

GAMES Research Group

• Largest AI research group using games

• Classic Games• Chess, checkers, go…• Poker, hearts, spades…• General game playing

• Commercial games• Role-playing (BioWare)• Sports (Electronic Arts)

What is AI?

• Amnesty International?• Artificial Insemination?• Army Intelligence?• Air India?• Three-toed sloth from

South America?

Artificial Intelligence

• Field of computing science concerned with making computers do tasks that we regard as requiring intelligence.

• All encompassing: reasoning, vision, language, learning, creativity, robotics, planning, etc.

The Computer (R)Evolution

Need to re-think what it means to think.

AI and History

One of the most profound contributions of the 20th century is the realization that intelligent behavior can be realized by

non-human information processing architectures.

AI is a Moving Target

• Imagine going back in time…• 1910: “Black box” that can correct your

spelling and grammar• 1960: Flying an airplane without human

intervention

• No one thinks of the above as AI• Once something becomes understood, it

no longer is regarded as AI

Different Architectures…

…Different Solving Methods

How?Why?What?Where?When?

Looking Under the Hood

Peek inside a “smart” program and you may find little that is “intelligent”.Yet computers do “intelligent” things.

Is this a paradox?

What is intelligence?

Chess: Man vs Machine

Garry Kasparov versus Deep Blue (1997)

Man Versus Machine (1997)

Kasparov

5’10”

176 lbs

34 years

50 billion neurons

2 pos/sec

Extensive

Electrical/chemical

Enormous

Height

Weight

Age

Computers

Speed

Knowledge

Power Source

Ego

Deep Blue

6’ 5”

2,400 lbs

0.5 years

512 processors

200,000,000 pos/sec

Primitive

Electrical

None

Crossword Puzzles

• Proverb uses multiple agents• 34% of clues/answers are repeats• specialized solvers (puns, word plays) • specialized Internet searchers

• Proverb scores well on the NY Times puzzles without understanding the clues

• Information retrieval without understanding the information is a powerful technique!

My Definition?

Artificial intelligence

creates the illusion of intelligent behavior

… Artificial Stupidity

Of course, some humans try to create the illusion of intelligence too!

1. Most Visible AI?

• Computer games• Creating “realistic” behavior• Creating “realistic” conversations• Real-time decision making• Planning

• Façade, the first game to evoke strong emotional responses

Still a Long Way to Go

2. Most Successful AI?

• Building strong game-playing programs• University of Alberta landmarks

• Checkers (1994; 2007)• Chess (1997)• Othello (1997)• Scrabble (late 1990s)• Backgammon (early 2000s)• Poker, 2-player limit (2007)

3. Most Used AI?

• Email spam filters (learn patterns)

4. Biggest AI Systems?

• Visa• Detecting potential credit card fraud

• Walmart• Predicting buying patterns

• US Military• Numerous applications including autonomous

vehicle navigation, data analysis, missile guidance systems, and face recognition

5. Biggest AI Investors?

• Search engines (Google, Yahoo, Microsoft)• Includes language translation

• Help systems (Microsoft)• User preferences (Amazon.com, Netflix)

“A breakthrough in machine learning would be worth ten Microsofts” Bill Gates

6. Cool AI Applications?

• Navigation• Search and Rescue• Mars Rover• Deep Space 1

Automated Driving

Serious Games

• Medical: training doctors• Military: training commanders• Therapy: relieving combat stress

Home Robotics

• Vacuuming• Pool cleaning• Mowing the lawn

• Floor washing• Gutter cleaning• Shop sweeping

Home Robotics: Tomorrow?

Sadly, not in my lifetime, but likely yours

7. Ethical Issues?

• Love and sex with robots?• Do robots have rights?• Computers as judge and jury?

Coming Soon

• Many of the following exist today, but will become pervasive• Personalized health care• Automated vehicles• High-quality language translation• Non-industrial robots• Conversational interfaces• Turning data in knowledge

Impediments

• Public perceptions from the Sci-Fi literature• AI is largely invisible

• Cross-cutting technology with wide applicability• “AI” inside

• Lack of knowledge in industry• UofA produces many AI graduates each year• Most leave the province/country to find a job

Conclusions

• AI is a major part of your life…and you don’t even know it

• AI will become a more important part of your life…

and you won’t even know it• Many AI technologies are mature are

ready for you to use

Thanks to Peter Stone, Maria Cutumisu, and various Internet sites.

Thank You!

Questions?