Xbox AI Gaming Companion - Mobile Gaming Enhanced
Xbox Unveils AI-Powered Gaming Companion
Prior to the Game Developers Conference (GDC), Xbox announced on Thursday its experimentation with an AI-powered assistant designed for gamers.
Introducing Copilot for Gaming
Dubbed “Copilot for Gaming,” this voice-activated assistant leverages Microsoft’s AI technology. Its purpose is to elevate the gaming experience by answering queries, executing commands, and even offering constructive criticism regarding gameplay performance.
Fatima Kardar, corporate vice president of gaming AI at Microsoft, stated in a recent Xbox podcast episode that the assistant can even “trash talk” players, if desired.
Functionality and Use Cases
During a press briefing, the company showcased several potential applications. These included providing real-time guidance, such as suggesting optimal character selection in Overwatch based on team dynamics.
The AI analyzes a player’s previous character choices within a specific map. It then offers advice on strategic maneuvers to secure victory and enhance future performance.
Ensuring Accuracy and Reliability
Xbox collaborated directly with game developers to guarantee the accuracy of the AI’s responses. This collaboration addresses concerns about potentially misleading or outdated information often found online, as explained by Kardar.
Consequently, when seeking assistance from Copilot, users will receive verified and correct information, without enabling cheating.
Social and Convenience Features
The assistant can also inform you when your friends are online and prompt you to join them in a game. If friends are unavailable, Copilot can function as a dynamic companion, adapting to your individual playstyle.
Beyond this, the AI can handle smaller tasks. These include reminding you of events from your last gaming session, initiating game installations, and recommending new titles aligned with your preferences.
Availability and Future Development
Currently, Copilot for Gaming is exclusively accessible through the Xbox mobile app. It operates as a secondary screen during gameplay. Xbox intends to refine the feature based on user feedback received.
Competition in the AI Gaming Space
Other major players, including Google and Sony, are also actively exploring AI agents for video games. Google DeepMind, for example, developed SIMA last year, an AI companion that plays alongside users and responds to instructions.
Reports indicate that Sony PlayStation is developing an AI-powered iteration of Aloy, a character from Horizon Forbidden West, as noted by The Verge.
