AI-generated Minecraft revealed, showcasing AI’s ability to copy anything but worse

In the last few decades, AI has done some hilarious things. People have praised generative AI's ability to create textures. They have also managed to run Doom on a neural net. And, 'anyday now' we should be able to play games that are inspired by user prompts. As you would expect, today isn't that day.

Decart, a company that has appeared overnight in the AI industry, has released Oasis - "the world's very first real-time AI model".

Oasis uses frame prediction. The AI model can be fed a huge amount of data to predict the next frame. This is why it seems like the tool invents blocks and does not seem to have object permanence. It doesn't save data from your world, and after a while, it loses track of what you've done.

Decart says that "Oasis simulates physics, rules and graphics, while taking in keyboard and mouse input from the user."

You're not playing the actual game. Instead, you're playing an approximation.

Decart announced the potential uses of this technology in its announcement for this model.

Imagine a world in which this integration is so tight, that foundation models could even augment modern entertainment platforms with content generated on the fly based on user preferences. Or maybe a gaming experience with new options for user interaction, such as audio and text prompts that guide the gameplay.

This last part suggests users can create their own experiences by increasing stakes or manipulating the game on the fly. The current model is far more limited.

Decart seems to be generating a version Minecraft, and it's a pixelated one. The trailer for the new engine ends with the words "Imagine what AI experience could look like if everybody had the power to make them". That's exactly what I need to do, as this game was made by Mojang nearly two decades ago.

The idea of AI-generated Minecraft is impressive if everything goes as Decart describes here. However, it is important to note that this is nowhere near the future envisioned. The work needed to create a widely accessible game is different than the ability to imagine and create bespoke user experiences based on prompts.

Decart wants to get to a point where users can say, "Imagine there is a pink Elephant chasing me down", and it will appear. But right now, it's struggling with making a look-alike of an old game by using tons of data from that game. According to MIT Technology Review, there are millions of hours of Minecraft gaming.

Before we even consider whether users want this, or the copyright implications, it is important to understand if you can frame your artwork around yourself.

This tool was made with Nvidia cards. If you thought Minecraft is a game that's easy to run, think again. It runs at 360p and 20 fps. Etched ASICs is Decart's partner in this project. These chips will supposedly enable it to run 4K tech.

Some of the AI used in games is actually very good for average gamers. AI-powered Frame Generation is a way to improve performance in games that use the same basic equipment. It also, in theory, relies on generating frames based on previous information.

I tried to access Oasis, but after the waiting period, the entire site wouldn't load. It's not that you can't get to it, but I couldn't. At this rate, I would rather boot up the actual thing.