The Uncharted Future of Xbox and AI

Haiyan Zhang, general manager of gaming AI at Xbox, initiated a fireside chat with the ESA's Stanley Pierre-Louis, reminding attendees that AI technology has been around for decades. In the 1950s, early AI research utilized games like chess to understand the concept of intelligence and develop rules that mimicked human behavior. Over the past decade, video games have been used to train AI models and advance the field of science, with games like Pac-Man and Zuma's Revenge serving as testbeds for AI researchers. The general manager highlighted that AI has evolved into a new set of tools and resources for the gaming industry, presenting fresh opportunities for the sector and society as a whole. Following the release of Chat GPT in November 2022, generative technology has become widespread across various sectors, and AI has become a topic of discussion among business and government leaders. However, Zhang cautioned against becoming overly enamored with the technology, emphasizing that it should be used to support people, not replace them. When creating resources, it is essential to understand the needs of the community and utilize AI to address those needs. Zhang stressed the importance of responsible AI development, emphasizing the need for guidelines and accountability to ensure that data collection is fair, representative, and transparent. The executive also noted that AI can help create new gaming experiences, solve unknown problems, and expand accessibility. The future of AI, according to Zhang, should be collaborative, with technology evolving in a way that is shaped by human needs and values. The Xbox executive emphasized that AI is not meant to replace people but rather to augment their capabilities, citing reports that software engineers are developing code 55% faster with the help of AI. Ultimately, Zhang called for a collaborative approach to shaping the future of AI, encouraging developers and stakeholders to work together to define the path forward.