Microsoft’s commitment to artificial intelligence is spreading to its gaming division in the form of a chatbot with an animated character.
The Verge, citing anonymous sources familiar with the product, reports that it is a technological giant testing an “embodied AI character” chatbot for Xbox that can respond to queries such as broken game consoles or subscription issues, and automate other support tasks. It can also process game refunds through the Microsoft support site because it’s linked to Xbox support documents. The chatbot’s internal description reportedly reads: “This agent can aid answer your Xbox support questions.” According to The Verge, the chatbot is part of a larger effort by Microsoft Gaming to implement artificial intelligence across the gaming platform and its services.
“We are testing an Xbox Virtual Support Agent, an internal prototype of an animated character that can ask Xbox Support questions via voice or text,” Haiyan Zhang, general manager of gaming artificial intelligence at Xbox, confirmed in a statement shared with Quartz. “The prototype makes it easier and faster for gamers to get aid on support topics using natural language by pulling information from existing Xbox support pages.” Microsoft did not respond to a request for comment.
Sources also told The Verge that Microsoft is looking to bring AI features to game content creation and operations, including AI-generated graphics and tools in games. Microsoft also apparently wants to expand its Copilot AI tool handle security and moderation on Xbox and act as a player assistant.
The chatbot is reportedly similar to what Microsoft expects from its customers on Azure, where developers and organizations can create their own AI-powered chatbots. Microsoft released a package of modern tools last week to aid Azure AI customers prevent hallucinations in their AI models, including a ground detection feature that can find text-based hallucinations, and tooltip shields that can prevent attacks, such as malicious tooltip injection, on AI models .
