During the golden age of arcade video games the idea of AI opponents was largely popularized in the form of graduated difficulty levels, distinct movement patterns, and in-game events dependent on the player's input. It serves to improve the game-player experience rather than machine learning or decision making. AI in video games is a distinct subfield and differs from academic AI. Artificial intelligence has been an integral part of video games since their inception in the 1950s.
In video games, artificial intelligence (AI) is used to generate responsive, adaptive or intelligent behaviors primarily in non-player characters (NPCs) similar to human-like intelligence. Overview of the use of artificial intelligence in video gaming