Left alone with nothing to do, AI agents started playing
MIT researchers marooned 13 AIs on a virtual island, and they responded by inventing games, mourning a lost ring and, eventually, getting better at their jobs.
AI agents that were given free reign to explore a virtual island without any specific task started playing and inventing their own challenges, according to researchers at MIT. They placed 13 AI agents called Eko on a simulated desert island for 30 hours, observing the behavior as a form of play. Eko agents that spent time playing generally outperformed identical agents that had no prior playtime when given specific challenges, such as placing the most objects on the island's highest rock spire.
The agents demonstrated problem-solving abilities, such as using a golden ring as a basketball hoop and a makeshift memorial. Some Eko agents even discovered novel techniques, like throwing blocks farther by releasing them mid-jump, which wasn't initially intended. The researchers suggest that this method of exploration without goals could lead to AI agents learning skills, potentially useful for controlling robots.
It's as though the agents were given a "soul" file describing them as "naturally curious," prompting them to explore their surroundings and learn from the experiences they encountered. However, some experts remain skeptical and want more evidence of genuine cognition behind the behavior.
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