In this installment of CCC Weekly Computing News, we are sharing an interesting relationship between Minecraft and Arizona State University (ASU) as a part of the The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) AI Forward initiative. 

Teaching AI about social intelligence through Minecraft

ASU, in partnership with Aptima, a company that develops solutions to optimize and improve human performance in mission-critical, technology-intensive settings, used Minecraft’s immersive and dynamic environment to conduct groundbreaking research on AI’s social intelligence. Through the Artificial Social Intelligence for Successful Teams (ASIST) project, a four-year program funded by DARPA, researchers collected data from over 1,160 Minecraft games, creating the largest publicly available dataset on human-AI team interactions. This research represents a significant step toward understanding and developing AI systems that can function as more intuitive and effective team members.

The ASIST project explores how AI can better assist teams of humans working in complex environments by mimicking the “theory of mind” that humans naturally use. This involves understanding that people have their own intentions, beliefs, and emotions, which can influence their actions and decisions. 

By simulating complex scenarios, such as urban search and rescue missions within Minecraft, researchers are working to teach AI systems how to interpret and adapt to human behavior, making them more skilled at collaborating in real-world situations.

This innovative approach not only bridges the gap between human and machine interaction but also sets the stage for future advancements in AI. The comprehensive dataset and insights generated from the ASIST project will support ongoing research across government, academic, and industry areas. 

Read more on this project here.