Lesson 251 of 1169
AI in Video Games: Smart Bots and Helpful Hints
When a video game character moves on its own, that is often AI. When the game gives you a hint, AI might be helping. Here is what is going on.
Explorers · Tools Literacy · ~24 min read
The big idea
Video games have used AI for a long time. The 'computer player' you play against, the characters that walk around in the world (called NPCs), and even the hint system — those can all be AI.
Some examples
- Chess AI that decides what move to make.
- An NPC in a game that talks differently each time you meet them.
- A racing game opponent that adjusts to your skill level.
- A puzzle game that gives smarter hints when you are stuck.
Try it!
Play a game where you face a computer opponent. Notice if it gets harder as you get better, or stays the same. Some games adjust, some do not.
Practice this safely
Try this with a low-stakes example and a trusted adult nearby. The goal is to notice how AI talks about game AI, not to let it make the decision for you.
- 1Ask AI to explain game AI in plain language, then underline anything that sounds uncertain or too broad.
- 2Give it one detail from "AI in Video Games: Smart Bots and Helpful Hints" and ask for two possible next steps plus one reason each step might be wrong.
- 3Check NPCs against a trusted source, teacher, adult, expert, or original document before you use it.
End-of-lesson quiz
Check what stuck
8 questions · Score saves to your progress.
Lesson help
Questions are best handled with a grown-up here.
For this age range, Tendril keeps freeform AI chat paused until parent/guardian consent and child-safe moderation are fully verified. Use the quiz, notes, and related lessons below, or ask a parent, guardian, teacher, or librarian to work through the question with you.
Progress saved locally in this browser. Sign in to sync across devices.
Related lessons
Keep going
Explorers · 5 min
AI on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch: What It Does
Game consoles use AI for graphics, opponents, parental controls, and more. Here is what is going on inside the box.
Explorers · 5 min
Voice Helpers Like Alexa and Siri Are AI Too
When you talk to Alexa, Siri, or Google, you are using AI. Here is what they are good at — and what they get wrong.
Explorers · 5 min
AI in Photo Editing: Magic Erasers and Filters Explained
When your photo app removes a tourist from your beach picture, that is AI. When a filter ages you 50 years, that is AI too. Here is the basic idea.