Ubisoft recently offered a hands-on demonstration of "Teammates," its ambitious new voice AI technology designed to create more immersive and interactive gaming experiences. This innovative system aims to move beyond traditional NPC interactions, allowing players to converse with and command AI companions in real-time, potentially reshaping how players engage with game worlds and narratives.
Key Takeaways
- AI companions can understand and execute complex commands, enhancing gameplay and puzzle-solving.
- The AI assistant "Jaspar" can manage in-game menus and accessibility options.
- Ubisoft emphasizes that AI is a "tool" to augment, not replace, human creativity in game development.
- Narrative designers play a crucial role in defining AI character personalities and dialogue.
- The technology is designed with guardrails to encourage positive player interaction.
The Evolution of NPCs
Building on previous iterations like NEO NPCs, "Teammates" integrates cloud-based AI directly into gameplay scenarios. The demonstration showcased a first-person shooter environment where players were accompanied by two AI partners, Sofia and Pablo, and an AI assistant named Jaspar. Unlike static chatbots, these AI characters respond dynamically to player voice commands, offering a more organic and engaging experience.
Jaspar: More Than Just an Assistant
Jaspar, the AI assistant, proved to be a versatile tool. Beyond providing narrative context and lore, Jaspar could perform user experience tasks, such as inverting the Y-axis on the controller or adjusting display settings for color blindness. This highlights the potential for AI to enhance accessibility and streamline gameplay mechanics, acting as an extension of the game’s menus.
Dynamic Companionship in Action
The core of the "Teammates" demo involved directing Sofia and Pablo in combat and puzzle-solving. Players could issue commands like "Sofia, can you step on the pad on the left?" or "Pablo, get ready to shoot the guy on the right-hand side." The AI companions executed these orders with impressive speed and accuracy, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the game environment and player intent. This level of interaction moves beyond pre-scripted dialogue, allowing for emergent gameplay moments.
Addressing Creative Concerns
Ubisoft acknowledges the ongoing debate surrounding AI’s impact on creative roles. Narrative director Virginie Mosser explained that "Teammates" is developed with human creativity at its core. Narrative designers create detailed character sheets, backstories, and hundreds of lines of dialogue to train the AI, ensuring original content and a distinct character personality. The goal is to use AI as a tool to enhance the creative process, not to replace it.
The Future of AI in Gaming
Project director Xavier Manzanares described "Teammates" as a "super cool tool" rather than the definitive future of all games. The technology is agnostic and can be integrated in various ways, from enhancing accessibility features to creating entirely new dynamic gameplay experiences. Ubisoft aims to develop games that seamlessly blend AI elements with traditional gameplay, where the technology becomes an intuitive part of the player’s experience rather than a distinct feature.
Building Responsible AI
Ubisoft is implementing multi-layered systems to ensure responsible AI behavior. This includes building characters with defined values and personalities, maintaining narrative flow during missions, and employing technical guardrails. The aim is to create an environment where toxic or exploitative interactions are not rewarding for the player, encouraging more meaningful engagement with the game world.
