Grand Theft Auto V: The Rise And Fall Of The DIY Self-Driving Car Lab
A few years ago, artificial intelligence researchers discovered that Grand Theft Auto V, the blockbuster 2013 video game, was good for more than stealing cars and causing mayhem on the fictional mean streets of Los Santos. Its realistic graphics and physics engine provide an excellent virtual environment for training self-driving cars. The game’s sprawling urban and rural environments are populated with pedestrians, drivers and animals that dynamically interact with the AI. Training an autonomous car system is all the more efficient when running over a pedestrian doesn’t result in real-life injuries and legal troubles.
The fun didn’t last long, though.
Over the past year, GTA V’s publisher, Take-Two Interactive, has quietly shut down a number of high-profile projects with cease-and-desist letters, according to multiple AI researchers involved in the projects. Take-Two is slamming the breaks on more than just commercial endeavors. Academic researchers have also been dealt with aggressively.