Ubisoft reveals "Teammates," a generative AI experiment featuring voice-controlled NPCs

Ubisoft has unveiled Teammates, its first playable generative AI research project that intends to explore how AI can “enhance” a player’s experience through the use of real-time voice commands.

The details:

• As announced on the company’s website, Teammates was built using the Snowdrop Engine, which powers games such as The Division 2, and builds upon its Neo NPC AI experiment showcased at GDC 2024. The project features an AI assistant named Jaspar alongside two AI-powered squadmates, Pablo and Sofia, who can respond dynamically to voice commands issued by the player and contextual actions throughout a pre-made level.
• In the short prototype, players take on the role of a resistance member tasked with infiltrating an enemy base to locate five missing team members. However, use of voice commands is crucial, with puzzles to solve and orders to issue during combat. Jaspar can be used by the player to highlight enemies, adjust settings, provide further details regarding the scenario’s narrative and setting, and even pause the game entirely through voice commands.
• Ubisoft has stated that the playtest has been limited to a “few hundred players,” with their feedback being used for future development of its AI technology. The publisher states that it will continue “building the tools and gathering vital reactions and suggestions from real players and creative teams… all with a philosophy of human creativity, ingenuity, and curiosity at the heart of their work.” The team behind Teammates is also planning to release a video soon, which will give more insight into the development of AI at Ubisoft.