Collaborating AI learns to play StarCraft

Multiple artificial intelligence (AI) agents have learned to work together to play StarCraft, a science fiction combat video game, by using two-way communication according to a team from UCL and Alibaba Group. Previously, single AI agents learned to play Go and card games, beating the most accomplished human players, but in this study, multiple AI agents have learned to collaborate to defeat multiple enemies in a real-time strategy game. The discovery, published as a pre-print on arXiv , provides valuable insights into the way AI agents learn how to communicate and coordinate effectively. This could help scientists develop the next generation of AI for use in large-scale, real-world applications, advancing the AI currently used for gaming on the stock markets, predicting user interests and as competing agents bidding on online advertising exchanges.  'The AI agents learned how to play StarCraft without guidance, demonstration or human input. This allowed us to study how they communicate among themselves to be successful as individual players and as part of a team,' explained study lead, Dr Jun Wang (UCL Computer Science). 'A big challenge in developing the next generation of AI is understanding how individual AI agents communicate in a similar way to humans, by embracing social and collective wisdom.