Studios behind global game franchises ‘League of Legends’ and ‘Assassin’s Creed’ collaborate with Government entities in bringing advanced AI in games sessions to Valletta
At this week’s worldwide AI and Games Summer School, over 140 postgraduates, doctorate candidates, game developers, designers, and programmers from over 25 countries met at the old UM Valletta campus. This esteemed occasion provided interactive seminars and the newest AI methods for game production.
Lecturers Georgios N. Yannakakis and Julian Togelius, co-authors of the textbook “AI and games,” led the summer program. Prof. Yannakakis emphasized the value of innovation in AI and gaming. Research.com named him one of the top scientists of 2024. “Innovation is at the core of games and AI, and this summer school offers rare opportunities to learn about cutting-edge technology and innovative approaches to AI from leaders in the field,” he said.
Speakers from prominent companies in the video game industry, including Riot Games the company behind League of Legends, Ubisoft the makers of Assassin’s Creed, and Keyword Studios a significant supplier of creative and technical solutions, were also enjoyed by the attendees. The guests received valuable information about the practical uses of AI in games from these presentations.
With the help of Malta Enterprise and the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA), which offered 20 scholarships to local professionals, the event was more widely accessible. Additionally, the University of Malta gave its students ten scholarships. After a great summer school in Cambridge last year, the program was held in Malta for the first time this year. As the communications partner for the event, Gaming Malta also provided support.
A hackathon marked the end of the summer school, when participants used their newly acquired knowledge to create games using cutting-edge AI technologies. Participants were able to demonstrate their abilities and work on innovative initiatives using this practical experience. With support from Modl.ai and Keyword Studios, the event offered a special setting for AI and game development knowledge, creativity, and cooperation.
