Is VR Dependent on AI?: Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality is a relatively recent development that has transformed immersive technology and is believed to become a crucial part of the expansion of businesses into the virtual world. Artificial Intelligence is also a major development that has developed rapidly these last few decades, parallel to VR. You may often hear these two technologies being mentioned alongside one another, but what is the relationship between them?

VR is not dependent on AI, because it’s a completely different technology that is based on 3D simulations. However, it can use AI to improve the user experience and make it more interactive and immersive. This combination of VR and AI is already being used in gaming and retail applications.

In the rest of this article, I will explain what Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence are and their relationship. I will also mention the practical uses of this relationship in several different fields and answer any additional questions you may have. Let’s get started!

Is VR Powered by AI?

Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence are two separate technologies that work very well with each other but are not dependent on one another. Several aspects of Virtual Reality can be improved and developed significantly using Artificial intelligence.

Virtual Reality is a computer-generated, three-dimensional simulation that allows the user to interact with the simulated space and everything in it. It is mostly dependent on advanced computer graphics to create a virtual space that is as realistic as possible.

On the other hand, Artificial Intelligence is the technology that allows machines to learn information and be able to respond coherently and intelligently to questions and different challenges. This technology depends mostly on advanced programming that aims to make machines answer questions and make decisions the same way a human would.

Is VR a Form of AI?

People often mistake Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence for one another, thinking that they are more or less the same thing. The reason why this happens is that both these technologies are advancing at the same time and are sometimes used in the same application. However, Virtual Reality is not the same, or part of Artificial Intelligence, or vice-versa.

As mentioned above, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence are completely separate technologies. Virtual Reality can exist without Artificial Intelligence because it can only exist as a 3D simulation. VR is not a form of AI, but it’s its own technology.

How Do VR and AI Intersect?

While these two technologies are separate, they can intersect often, since AI can help improve VR experiences. AI is often used in VR applications to enhance the interactive experience, learning user behaviors in real-time and creating a more dynamic environment.

For instance, in a VR game, AI can help make more realistic and interactive Non-Player Characters that would “communicate” and interact with the player in a way that responds to the user’s preferences. Additionally, AI can be used to learn different aspects of space to create new environments in real-time, making the VR experience much more immersive.

Artificial Intelligence has developed rapidly in the last few years, which has made it more accessible and usable in different projects, including VR. As mentioned above, VR can exist without AI, but it can be improved significantly if it includes machines that can learn and respond to queries in real-time.

Which Areas of VR Are Using AI?

Several parts of VR have benefited from the addition of machine learning, creating much more accurate and user-centric experiences. The main areas of VR that have taken advantage of AI are simulation, predictive analysis, language learning, and object tracking.

Simulation. As I explained above, AI can learn different physical components of a space, like textures and lighting, to create new environments in real time, making the VR experience much more realistic for users.
Predictive analysis. AI can use machine learning to observe and learn user preferences, predicting what a certain user may need or want at any given time. As a result, user experience in VR will be tailored according to their specific requirements and preferences.
Object identification and tracking. Machine learning can track objects and identify them correctly, helping create an even more immersive experience.
Language learning. Artificial Intelligence can learn how to respond to voice commands from a user, making it much easier for the user to communicate and interact within Virtual Reality.

Several other Virtual Reality areas are developing with the help of Artificial Intelligence, like behavior analysis and content development. Although there have been massive developments in the last few years, the rapid evolution of VR and AI together is even more promising for the future.

Industries That Are Using VR and AI

As Artificial Intelligence and Virtual reality have become more advanced and more practical for different uses in our daily lives, several companies have taken advantage of these technologies to create better experiences for their users. Virtual Reality has been a pretty common technology used in certain areas, but the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence has enhanced these experiences even further.

Here are some of the main industries that are making good use of AI in their existing VR applications:

Gaming

Gaming companies are considered the pioneers of using Virtual reality and Artificial Intelligence, and for good reason; there are so many uses for both these technologies in gaming because they can both transform the experience; what was once a pretty detached experience from a computer screen, can become something as close to real-life as possible.

VR in itself is a pretty big step, allowing the users to feel immersed in the gameplay, but AI takes things further, introducing interactive characters and dynamic environments. With the help of AI, video games have become incredibly realistic, enhancing the overall experience.

Film

Like video games, the film industry can also benefit from the combination of VR and AI. Unlike video games, films have a story to tell and real-life actors, but they can benefit immensely in terms of special effects and visuals. VR films are already being made, and AI will provide the necessary intelligence to create a seamless virtual space with realistic effects.

Retail

Retail was one of the first industries that saw the potential of Virtual and Augmented Reality technologies. They used VR to show users how an object would look in their own space or how a piece of clothing would fit them by just using their phone.

However, with the help of AI, this experience can become even more interactive. Machine learning can help tailor the experience according to every specific user’s preferences and create a more immersive and dynamic Virtual Reality.

Telecommunications

Communication is becoming increasingly sophisticated thanks to developments in VR and AI. Virtual Reality allows users to attend a meeting or work in their office without leaving their room. Artificial Intelligence helps make this experience more immersive and realistic, learning user behavior and creating a more interactive space.

Simulation Training

One of the earliest uses of Virtual reality was aerospace simulation. For decades, there have been plenty of flight simulators that used VR principles to create an experience as close to the real thing as possible. As VR has developed and embraced AI, simulation training in several different areas, including aerospace, has become much more sophisticated.

Using VR and AI, simulation training becomes much more interactive and can give much more detailed feedback about potential mistakes of the user during training. The military in particular is taking advantage of these developments to create a realistic environment for training.

What Games on VR Are Using AI?

There are plenty of Virtual Reality games that are making good use of Artificial Intelligence to improve the user experience. Here are some of the most well-known games that are using Ai right now:

Job Simulator
Beat Saber
Tilt Brush
Robo Recall
Half-Life: Alyx
Hitman 3

There are plenty of other games that are starting to use AI in their VR applications for a better user experience. Considering the advantages, it’s reasonable to believe that most VR games in the future will include AI to optimize the user experience.

Final Thoughts

Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence are completely separate technologies that are developing alongside one another right now. They are not dependent on one another, but they can intersect in several ways to improve the user experience.

VR can take advantage of AI to learn user behavior and analyze it to improve the overall experience in different applications. There are plenty of industries that are already taking advantage of the VR and AI combination, including retail, gaming, and telecommunications.