Leading Research on Adaptive Gameplay and Procedural Content Generation
The Game AI Lab is a research-focused environment dedicated to advancing intelligent systems for interactive entertainment. Our work explores adaptive algorithms, scalable simulations, and player-centric AI design—bridging academic research and practical applications to shape the future of game development.
Research
At the Game AI Lab, our research focuses on advancing the intelligence behind interactive digital experiences, creating systems that are adaptive, scalable, and deeply integrated into gameplay. We aim to push the boundaries of Game Artificial Intelligence by developing methods that make virtual agents more responsive, believable, and capable of enhancing player engagement.
Our work spans several key areas:
- Behavioral Modeling and Decision Systems: Designing AI that can reason, plan, and act in ways that feel natural and immersive.
- Adaptive and Learning Agents: Exploring reinforcement learning and player modeling to create AI that evolves with user behavior and adapts to create a better experience.
- Procedural Content Generation: Discovering new ways to create exciting content for large scale games
Beyond technical innovation, we investigate how AI-driven systems can foster social play and collaborative experiences, ensuring that intelligent agents contribute to richer, more meaningful interactions. Our research emphasizes player-centric design, integrating AI that not only improves game mechanics but also supports creativity, learning, and community engagement.
Through these projects, the Game AI Lab is setting new standards for AI in games, bridging academic research and industry practice to shape the future of interactive entertainment.
Education
What can you do here?
- Prototype Game AI systems: pathfinding, behavior trees, decision-making, and more!
- Work on course projects and group assignments in a collaborative setting.
- Playtest and debug your games with peers around you.
- Brainstorm and study together on game and AI topics.
The new Game AI student lab in Ø13-611c-1 is a shared workspace closely tied to the courses “Intro to Game AI” and “Game AI in Practice”. During those course sessions the room may be reserved for teaching, but outside those times it’s open as a joint working environment where you can prototype Game AI systems, develop course projects, and collaborate with other students. The lab offers tables and chairs for both solo and group work, whiteboards for sketching designs, and a large-scale screen for presenting and working together, with future access to GPU-based computing facilities planned for more demanding AI experiments. No safety course is required, and the big question “why work here?” is answered by its focus: it’s a dedicated Game AI hub where you’ll find the right setup, like-minded students, and a space that’s literally built for experimenting, building, and sharing your game AI ideas.
Key info
- Hands-on AI Development: move beyond theory and build real systems.
- Dry Lab: No safety certification required.
- Easy Access: Granted by your professor or arranged for specific semesters.
- The lab is designed as a collaborative workspace. It’s very much a “let’s sit together and build something” kind of space.
- Soon, the lab will have direct access to computing facilities, such as a GPU server, so you can run more demanding AI experiments and game simulations.
How to Access
Access is by arrangement with your professor or through specific courses. It is generally available as a space to work, code, or collaborate on AI related project.
The lab is intended to be accessible whenever it is not reserved for the connected courses, following the general access conditions of the building/department. (Check local information or timetables for exact building opening hours.)
Ready to start making innovative Ai for games?
Affiliated Staff
Alexander Dockhorn
Lab leader, Associate Professor
Marco Scirea
Associate Professor
