Marine Boulot, CCO & Founder of The Metaverse Society – Interview Series

Marine Boulot is the CCO (Chief Communications Officer) & Founder of The Metaverse Society.

Marine brings two decades of experience to Improbable, with a background in reputation turnarounds, M&A, and IPO preparation for engineering and tech companies. Her current role centers on Improbable‘s advocacy for the metaverse, where she spearheads The Metaverse Society.

How do you envision AI transforming the interaction with NPCs (Non-Player Characters) in future games, especially with advances in dynamic responses and improved realism?

AI's impact on NPCs in future games is going to be transformational. We'll see NPCs that are not just more realistic but can respond dynamically to what players do in real-time. Imagine NPCs that adapt to your skills, needs, localization requirements, and even cultural preferences without you having to tweak any settings. This means less time spent on balancing the game manually, which can cut down on development and running costs. It’s like having characters that evolve with you, making the game world feel more alive and responsive.

Can you provide examples of how AI-driven dynamic in-game responses can enhance the gaming experience for different types of players?

AI can take in-game responses to a whole new level. Think about how games currently might suggest a weapon or a path. With AI, these suggestions can become much more subtle and complex, adjusting to thousands of different scenarios and player styles. For instance, in games with vast environments, AI can help navigate in a way that feels unique to each player. It can also handle real-time translation, allowing players from different countries to interact seamlessly, making the game more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.

How can AI facilitate better matchmaking and player interactions in online multiplayer games?

Essentially, AI can help respond in real time. It could also be used to add density to multiplayer – and will gamers be able to discern or even care that they are playing with AI users rather than real people?

In what ways can AI streamline the game development process, from concept to launch, and what stages of development are most impacted?

AI can make game development much more efficient at almost every stage. During the ideation and iteration phases, AI can speed up coding and automate testing, saving time and money. AI can generate early-stage animations and video renderings, providing valuable feedback and enabling quicker adjustments. While the initial game concept still needs human creativity, AI can accelerate the move from concept to prototype, reducing risks and costs.

How do you see the metaverse influencing the future of gaming, especially in terms of perpetual, immersive, always-on worlds?

The metaverse is set to revolutionize gaming by offering always-on, immersive worlds where players can interact, create, and explore endlessly. AI will be crucial in managing these vast virtual environments, keeping them dynamic and engaging. It will enable real-time content generation, personalization, and interaction, making the metaverse more responsive to player actions and preferences. This will lead to richer, more complex gaming experiences that are constantly evolving.

What are the key elements required to build a meaningful metaverse that enhances gaming experiences?

To build a meaningful metaverse, several key elements are needed:

1. Advanced AI and ML: To manage and generate dynamic environments and realistic NPCs.
2. High Compute Capacity: For smooth, real-time processing.
3. Robust Network Infrastructure: Ensuring seamless connectivity.
4. User-Friendly Interfaces: Making the metaverse accessible to everyone.
5. Content Diversity: Encouraging user-generated content and offering a variety of experiences.
6. Safety Measures: Ensuring a secure and fair environment.
7. Interoperability Standards: Allowing seamless integration between different platforms and services.

What are some innovative ways AI can be used to adapt game difficulty and content based on player behavior?

Game experiences rely heavily on thorough testing and balancing. AI can more accurately stress the game and by doing so help surface things that might be missed. AI can also uniquely adapt as the player goes and provide for a greater variety in settings without needing to tweak the game. Overall the experience should be smoother, and with fewer bugs.

Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit The Metaverse Society or Improbable.