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Artificial intelligence is often portrayed as a technology that limits human relationships and replaces real interactions. The same concern applies to online games, where many players worry that bots will take away the social aspect of gameplay. However, a new study of PUBG: Battlegrounds paints a very different picture. It turns out that properly designed AI-controlled opponents can boost players' confidence and encourage them to cooperate more often with others. The effects were clear enough to attract the attention of researchers analysing the impact of artificial intelligence on user behaviour. The study's results will be published in the journal Information Systems Research.
AI bots helped new players find their feet in PUBG
Since its 2017 release, PUBG: Battlegrounds has become one of the most popular online games in the world. Over time, however, a problem well known to multiplayer game developers emerged. Experienced players reached such a high skill level that new players were regularly eliminated early in matches. That discouraged beginners from continuing to play and made it harder for the game's community to grow. In response, in 2020 studio Krafton introduced AI-controlled opponents into selected matches. The bots were deliberately programmed to perform at a slightly lower level than the average player. This allowed new players to stay in matches longer, score eliminations and succeed more often. Interestingly, players knew bots were present but couldn't tell which opponents were AI-controlled. That made every victory feel authentic and satisfying. Researchers say this element had a huge impact on boosting new players' confidence.
Greater confidence led to more frequent play with others
Analysis of player behaviour showed that after AI opponents were introduced, players spent around 50 per cent more time in PUBG than before. The number of matches played also increased. The most interesting changes, however, concerned cooperation between players. Researchers recorded an increase of about 28 per cent in team matches. This means that people who gained confidence thanks to bots were much more likely to join friends and choose playing together instead of playing solo. Researchers explain this phenomenon by an increased sense of self-efficacy, the belief that you can cope with challenges. The study's authors believe a similar mechanism could be used outside the world of gaming as well. Artificial intelligence could help new employees during onboarding, make it easier to learn new software, or support people acquiring new skills. Rather than replacing people, AI could act as a training partner that prepares users for more demanding tasks. The study therefore shows that, when used appropriately, artificial intelligence can strengthen collaboration between people rather than limit it.
A new study on PUBG: Battlegrounds shows that artificial intelligence doesn't necessarily weaken relationships between players. Properly designed bots boosted novice players' confidence, increased time spent playing and encouraged them to cooperate with others more often. The results suggest AI can become an effective tool for supporting skill development both in games and in many other fields.
source: digitaltrends
