Microsoft is reportedly working on bringing an AI chatbot to the Xbox.
The company is said to be internally testing a new piece of machine-learning software that can carry out and automate tasks given to it by users.
“We are testing an Xbox Support Virtual Agent, an internal prototype of an animated character that can query Xbox Support topics with voice or text,” general manager of gaming AI Haiyan Zhang told The Verge.
“The prototype makes it easier and quicker for players to get help with support topics using natural language, taking information from existing Xbox Support pages,” Zhang said.
The outlet also claimed that the “embodied AI character” is similar to Microsoft’s Azure AI, which companies like Vodafone use as a basis for their chatbots.
As well as moving the software to their gaming consoles, Microsoft is hoping to bring the feature over to game developers in an effort to experiment with AI-generated assets, art and non-playable characters.
In November 2023, the company partnered with Inworld AI to develop Xbox tools that will allow game designers to create detailed scripts, dialogue trees and quest lines for their upcoming titles.
“At Xbox, we believe that with better tools, creators can make even more extraordinary games,” Zhang said in a statement posted on Microsoft’s website.
“This partnership will bring together: Inworld’s expertise in working with generative AI models for character development, Microsoft’s cutting-edge cloud-based AI solutions including Azure OpenAI Service, Microsoft Research’s technical insights into the future of play, and Team Xbox’s strengths in revolutionizing accessible and responsible creator tools for all developers,” the statement continued.
