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Microsoft Inc. is testing an AI chatbot for its Xbox console. The tool will be installed to provide customer support and other services.
According to CNET, the AI chatbot that Microsoft already put on trial is an animated character that will take information from current Xbox Support pages. The company said that the data it will absorb will help it answer any questions from players.
AI Chatbot for Xbox
Microsoft said the chatbot on Xbox can do a lot of things. Aside from providing answers to queries, it can also process payments for refunds related to games.
Likewise, the tech giant is building AI tools that can do more than answer questions. It has been pouring funds to develop and create AI technologies that can be used for its various platforms, including the Bing search engine, Office products, and now its Xbox gaming console.
"We are testing an Xbox Support Virtual Agent, an internal prototype of an animated character that can query Xbox Support topics with voice or text," Xbox’s general manager of Gaming AI, Haiyan Zhang, told CNET via email. “The prototype makes it easier and quicker for players to get help with support topics using natural language, taking information from existing Xbox Support pages.”
Ongoing AI Chatbot Testing at Xbox’s Office
The Verge reported that the Xbox AI chatbot is being tested internally, and gaming company employees are participating. Microsoft is said to be conducting the trial against support queries for the “Minecraft Realms” subscription-based hosting service.
This project is part of the company’s broader AI efforts for its gaming unit. At any rate, it was mentioned that Microsoft recently expanded the testing pool for the AI chatbot for Xbox to cover more features. It was suggested that this is now the prototype for “Xbox Support Virtual Agent.” The official launch of this tool has yet to be announced, but many are predicting it will soon and likely be part of an upgrade.
Photo by: Mika Baumeister/Unsplash
