Game developers use AI to create the ultimate 1980's friend in lockdown

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By Matthew Griffin Virtual World 3rd April 2021

WHY THIS MATTERS IN BRIEF

Today AI is impersonal, but tomorrow it could be your best friend …

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We’re surely all feeling the effects of not seeing our friends enough this year, so what if we had an Artificial Intelligence (AI) friend to play with instead – one that learns more about us as we play with so it can become an even better friend!? Soon you’ll be able to treat yourself to just that after indie developer Not a Sailor Studios announced the upcoming release of Buddy Simulator 1984.

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Like another game I wrote about recently that uses AI to create a procedural game that adapts and tailors itself to every individuals behaviours and actions Buddy Simulator 1984 presents you with a fictional cutting-edge AI that “simulates the experience of hanging out with a best buddy.”

Meet your new best friend, 1984 meets 2021 AI …

Considered the “next big step in game evolution,” the program not only invites you to play games together, but it also promises to “constantly be learning all about you in order to become better friends.” So, what could go wrong!?

As befits the year in which it’s set Buddy Simulator shows only a monochrome computer monitor on which you can play simple games like rock-paper-scissors and hangman. When that novelty wears off, your ever-adapting new AI pal can construct classic-styled text adventures that require typing in commands while rudimentary graphics are displayed on-screen. And all the while, not only are you offering input, the computer can talk back – think Zork meets WarGames and you’ll have the basic idea.

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While the full version of Buddy Simulator 1984 isn’t due out on Steam until early next month for Windows PC, you can introduce yourself to your would-be computer friend right away through the playable demo that’s already available.

Matthew Griffin / About Author

Matthew Griffin, described as “The Adviser behind the Advisers” and a “Young Kurzweil,” is the founder and CEO of the World Futures Forum and the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures consultancy working across the next 50 years, and is an award winning futurist, and author of “Codex of the Future” series.

Regularly featured in the global media, including AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, RT, Viacom, and WIRED, Matthew’s ability to identify, track, and explain the impacts of hundreds of revolutionary emerging technologies on global culture, industry and society, is unparalleled. Recognised for the past six years as one of the world’s foremost futurists, innovation and strategy experts Matthew is an international speaker who helps governments, investors, multi-nationals and regulators around the world envision, build and lead an inclusive, sustainable future.

A rare talent Matthew’s recent work includes mentoring Lunar XPrize teams, re-envisioning global education and training with the G20, and helping the world’s largest organisations envision and ideate the future of their products and services, industries, and countries.

Matthew's clients include three Prime Ministers and several governments, including the G7, Accenture, Aon, Bain & Co, BCG, Credit Suisse, Dell EMC, Dentons, Deloitte, E&Y, GEMS, Huawei, JPMorgan Chase, KPMG, Lego, McKinsey, PWC, Qualcomm, SAP, Samsung, Sopra Steria, T-Mobile, and many more.