Maybe lately you've read some advertisments for computer games. Most of them spout off information related to the enhanced graphics or updated support for a certain operating system or something of that nature. Now, ever increasingly, these ads are adding a few lines of text which usually say, "now with computer AI!" or "enhanced computer opponents with AI!" What is "AI?" AI stands for Artificial Intelligence which is a set of instructions that are supposed to generate an "artificial intelligence." This AI is used to create computer opponents for chess, simulation, strategy, and action games.

However, many gamers have found these AI opponents to be of little or no challenge. Many recent games, such as the Mortal Kombat series, Command and Conquer series, the Chessmaster series, and SimCity 2000. All of these games feature some sort of AI, but usually game enthusiasts are not satisfied. Many complaints I've heard are, "The AI in Red Alert is horrible! It wasn't even a challenge!" or "Mortal Kombat has terrible AI -- the characters are erratic and don't have a plan of attack." Much of this dissatisfaction stems from the way the AI code is written. So far, I've never heard anyone complain about the AI in the Chessmaster games; people usually think it is extremely difficult.

Each game's AI has to be written differently to serve a unique purpose. For instance, the AI code in Chessmaster can't be put directly into Red Alert with great expectations. However, programmers can learn from this artificial intelligence, improve on it and implement it in new games. As of yet, no one has really taken the initiative in learning more about AI or advancing it. Since the gaming industry is often one-sided, most programmers tend to ignore the issues at hand and begin working on "the next big thing." This half-hearted approach to learning and using AI is not unusual; many technologies have been ignored this way.

Personally being an avid gamer, and, on behalf of the millions of PC game addicts around the globe, I implore programmers to re-think their AI code design and challenge them to formulate new and interesting uses for this evolving technology. Secondly, I believe that AI should only be used in situations that require it; after all, having AI for a checkers game would constitute overuse. Another note for programmers in the gaming industry : learn how AI works. Improve on its current design. Then, use these new incarnations in upcoming products. By improving the design and making AI useful within the context of a game, consumers will be content and the technology can finally become standardized.

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