AI in gaming: catching cheats, enhancing NPCs – what gamers want
A recent YouGov survey reveals varying levels of support for AI integration in video game development, with distinct preferences based on gaming frequency. Among heavy gamers, i.e., those who play on PC or console for at least an hour each week, nearly half express strong support for using AI to enhance NPC (non-player character) behavior, making these characters more realistic and responsive (46%). This group is also notably in favor of using AI to detect and prevent cheating in online games, with 41% backing this application.
Moderate gamers (those playing 1 to 7 hours per week) show slightly less support for AI's involvement in game development. Only 29% of this group supports the use of AI for NPC enhancements, while 36% agree with AI's role in detecting and preventing cheating. Interestingly, this group also shows lower support for AI-driven game balancing and personalized gaming experiences, at 21% and 19%, respectively.
Infrequent gamers (less than 1 hour per week) are more likely to not see a suitable role for AI in video gaming, at least from among the options provided – 21% fall in this category compared to just 14% of heavy gamers. Only a fourth support AI-driven NPC behavior improvements (25%), and just 24% favor AI in game balancing. However, infrequent gamers are slightly more open compared to the other gamers to AI offering personalized tips or creating customized gaming experiences, with 26% backing these use cases.
In a recently published article based on findings from the same survey, we noted that gamers are largely against the possibility of AI replacing humans in video game development roles. By two to one, gamers also said that AI would do a worse job than humans in delivering voice and physical acting performances in video games. But this segment of the findings show that gamers do see a role for AI in the industry overall. Overall, 65% of gamers picked at least one role that they feel AI is suited for in the video game industry, while 18% were undecided and an equal share said AI would be suitable to perform none of those roles.
YouGov Surveys: Serviced provide quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. The data is based on surveys of adults aged 18+ years in the US with an overall gamers’ sample size of 397. All surveys were conducted online in August 2024. Data is nationally representative. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Serviced.
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