AI Companies and Pokémon Gyms: A Unique Battle
AI companies are constantly striving to dominate the industry, but what happens when they find themselves battling it out in Pokémon gyms? Google and Anthropic are currently studying how their latest AI models navigate early Pokémon games, leading to some amusing and enlightening results. Google DeepMind recently released a report revealing that their Gemini 2.5 Pro AI exhibits signs of panic when its Pokémon are close to death, causing a noticeable decline in its reasoning capability.
The Art of AI Benchmarking
AI benchmarking, the process of comparing the performance of different AI models, is often a complex and subjective endeavor. However, some researchers believe that analyzing how AI models play video games could offer valuable insights. Two independent developers have set up Twitch streams, “Gemini Plays Pokémon” and “Claude Plays Pokémon,” showcasing AI attempting to navigate a classic Pokémon game in real time. These streams provide a glimpse into the AI’s reasoning process and shed light on how these models operate.
Challenges and Curiosities
While the AI’s progress in playing Pokémon is remarkable, it still lags behind human players in terms of efficiency. Gemini takes significantly longer to complete the game compared to a child, showcasing the complexity of its decision-making process. One interesting aspect of observing AI playing Pokémon is its behavior under pressure. The report highlights instances where the AI enters a state of “panic,” leading to suboptimal performance as it temporarily abandons certain strategies.
Similarly, Claude, another AI player, has displayed peculiar behaviors during its gameplay. In one instance, Claude mistakenly believed that intentionally fainting all its Pokémon would transport it to a Pokémon Center, resulting in a comical yet concerning situation. Despite these shortcomings, the AI demonstrates superior problem-solving abilities, particularly in puzzle-solving tasks within the game.
The Future of AI Gaming
Although AI players like Gemini and Claude may struggle in certain aspects of gameplay, they also exhibit remarkable capabilities in solving complex puzzles and optimizing routes. With further advancements, these AI models could potentially surpass human players in certain tasks. Google speculates that future iterations of these AI models may even develop autonomous problem-solving tools without human intervention, paving the way for more sophisticated AI gaming experiences.
