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Geek Culture / How about a AI processing unit?

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The ARRAYinator
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Posted: 29th Jul 2006 18:04 Edited at: 29th Jul 2006 18:25
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It seems to me that all hardware made for games like physx and the graphics processor have been geared towards the nice visuals that we see in todays games. But as ive been realizing more and more is that good AI using algorithms like A* take alot of computational power. TOday the importance of intelligence in games is finely becoming apparent. But yet it is stil being overlooked.It can be very dissappointing in many games.But if we had an AI processing unit load yet again is takin off the processor.But more importantly developers can design AI that can take advantage of todays algorithms while not sacrificing performance.Imagine a huge number of entitys intelligently interacting like never before.possibly such a processor can take advantage of neural networks on hardware specially designed to create such a network. Dont flame me for this as it was a thought Ive had for a little while now.
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Benjamin
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Posted: 29th Jul 2006 18:11 Edited at: 29th Jul 2006 18:12
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I don't really think AI takes the kind of processing power physics do, and we have yet to see how the PPU will do, so I don't see it being likely anytime soon.

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IanG
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Posted: 29th Jul 2006 19:56
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the problem is with something like ai processing units and the ppu is that it sits idle in your computer when your not gaming, so most people won't buy something which they wont use all the time - like buying a dishwasher when you usually eat out all the time - so it will be only the hardcore gamers who have them; so then the porgrammers have to write scaleable physics and scaleable ai, so that the normal joe blogs can still play it but also so that the super hardcore gamer can experienece it to his hearts content; thats why the up take is so slow with the ppu; would you spend 200 quid on something which not many games use, but then again programers wont use it in games cause no ones got it - bit of a circle


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Fallout
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Posted: 29th Jul 2006 21:28
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I personally don't see the point in an AI processor. Physics can have a very rigid command structure and very repetative math calculations of a fairly simple nature. In contrast, AI requires algorithms as you said, which are much harder to put into hardware (especially complex algorithms). An AIPU would probably need 50 or more algorithms, only 2 or 3 of which might be used by any one game. A*, for example, would only really be useful for oldstyle RTSs, and would be costly to implement in hardware.

I personally have never followed a set algorithm for my AI. I've borrowed ideas and concepts from things like A*, but to make them properly suitable for your needs, you often need to adapt and customise them. I also don't think AI has anywhere near the potential drain of physics. Physics you can double the amount of cubes in a wall, and exponentially increase the processing requirement. Doubling the amount of AI units in a game is a significant change to the game itself, rather than just increasing complexity of a given environment. In my opinion, AI is much more logic driven and unpredictable, where as physics is rigid repetative maths (perfect for hardware).

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Cash Curtis II
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Posted: 29th Jul 2006 22:56
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All of that, plus AI is not a game bottleneck. Even with a physics processor, the 3D data is the bottleneck. As computers get faster, more CPU time will be dedicated to the AI, and it will get better.

As far as good AI, I'm very happy with Dark AI. My enemies are damned tough to fight now, and the only thing I had to do was animate them correctly. Pretty groovy Even if AI hardware was available, I wouldn't use it, because it would be an insignificant barrier to people playing my game when far simpler alternatives are available.

Not a bad thought though, ARRAYinator. It just doesn't seem all that practical.


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Oddmind
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Posted: 29th Jul 2006 23:13
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I dont even know what an algorithim is

I just kind of... feel out, my AI.

formerly KrazyJimmy

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Fallout
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Posted: 30th Jul 2006 01:47
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Algorithm is a guy who ran for presidency in the US ...ithm.

Ok, I appologise for that one.

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Kenjar
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Posted: 30th Jul 2006 17:03
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If there was to be an AIPU I'd like to either see it combined with the PPU, or designed as a USB/ Firewire device. Frankly though, spending £200 on a physics unit, £100 - £200 on an AI unit plus a decent graphics card, cpu with a good load of ram, hard disk space, etc, is looking an expensive proposition. I mean just getting a graphcs card at say £80, a £200 physics card, a £100 AIPU, is the price of a new entry level PC just to start with. I can build whole systems for less that would at least run Oblivion at medium settings.

No, the only point where I'll consider getting a PPU or an AIPU is when it's intergrated into a single graphics card, or as a set of much cheaper USB or PCI devices. To add good physics I'd not want to spend more than £45 on a physics card, and £35 on an AIPU. Until then, I'm leaving the technology alone.


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