The Verge: Xbox New Internal Project Working Towards Consumer AI Chatbot

Unwrapping the flight of initiatives at Xbox shows to be a growing list as the platform refocuses its approach for gaming. One of the biggest motions from the Xbox firm is its plans for physical media. Already, it is reported a white, digital-only unit is in the works for a release this year. Additionally, this follows after reports of the company disbanding its physical retail division earlier on in 2024.

More on the matter, Xbox is offering its unique titles to Nintendo & PlayStation. The list includes Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded. And while it is elaborated that the set list has no plans to grow, there is some uncertainty on the backend of the statement. In that, Phil Spencer later in the conversation did give his input on exclusives being drastically less a decade from now.

Now in a new report from The Verge, Microsoft is in a new effort in creating a AI chatbot for Xbox. “This agent can help you with your Xbox support questions,” an internal description for the project reads. Speaking with sources familiar with the chatbot, it is coined as an “embodied AI character”. It is said to be utilized for tasks aimed in troubleshooting as well as other support inquiries.

Haiyan Zhang, Xbox general manager of gaming AI in a comment wrote: We are testing an Xbox Support Virtual Agent, an internal prototype of an animated character that can query Xbox Support topics with voice or text. The prototype makes it easier and quicker for players to get help with support topics using natural language, taking information from existing Xbox Support pages.”

Amid the conversations in AI for Xbox, it should be noted a major leader at Xbox and the greater Microsoft is leaving. Xbox CVP Kareem Choudhry is to depart from the firm after 26 years. Alongside his involvement in Xbox backwards compatibility & Xbox Cloud Gaming, he also lead the recent initiative for AI at the firm which likely played a part in the Xbox AI chatbot with his part spearheading the project. You can read the full report by heading here.

Are you interested in an Xbox AI chatbot?

Source: The Verge