In recent years we have seen how AI has evolved by leaps and bounds, steps so big that they surprise us day in and day out with overwhelming and shocking news.
In recent months we have heard about the leaps in quality of generative AIs, ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, etc. All of these are generative AIs, they are capable of generating high quality content and answering questions in a very natural way.
Apart from generative AIs, other AIs that have improved a lot are emotional or affective AIs, those that not only know how to give you an answer to your questions, but are also capable of interpreting your mood based on your way of writing, asking, your expression, your tone of voice, etc.
(IAI generated- Copilot)
Affective AI in video games
Can you imagine playing a game that adapts to your mood? With these AIs, it can be possible. You just have to think about what shape we have to give to the game so that these AIs can interpret your mood.
Imagine if your opponents were able to emotionally adapt to your reactions, and act differently each time you meet them in the game. Or stories that can be automatically modulated based on the decisions you make, decisions that are of course influenced by your mood at any given moment.
(IAI generated- Copilot)
Is it ethical?
The leap that games can make is enormous, but new questions arise, and legislation will surely appear on the subject. For example, how will this emotional data, very sensitive and private data, be stored?
Will we be sure that this data will not be used to manipulate us at the whim of the development companies? If we are working with the emotions of the players, we can use it to do something very good, adapt to their needs at each moment, and make the gameplay greater. But we can also use it to condition purchasing decisions, voting, decision-making, etc.
We can imagine games from which very strong emotional issues, emotional blocks, therapies, etc. can be dealt with. These well-regulated games, directed by professionals, and with powerful affective AIs can become very beneficial.
It is clear that we will see how the relationship between humans and machines is increasingly more human, but we need to be certain that there is regulation behind it that prevents it from being used to modify our way of thinking.
(IAI generated- Copilot)