Video games have become an important sandbox for AI research in recent years, with computers mastering a growing array of titles. But Gran Turismo represents a significant new challenge for a machine. Researchers at Sony and Polyphony Digital created the first AI system, called GT Sophy, which can beat professional esports players in the motorsport game Gran Turismo. This shows how important simulated environments have become for real-world AI systems.
While AI has mastered board games like chess or Go, mastering video games like Gran Turismo requires high-speed reflexes and the ability to make continuous judgments. A Gran Turismo ace must balance pushing a virtual car to its limits and wrestling with friction, aerodynamics, and precise driving lines with the subtle dance of trying to overtake an opponent without unfairly blocking their line and incurring a penalty.
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