Following the recent release of a fully mapped fruit fly brain model by Google's research team, engineers have begun to leverage the AI resource for unexpected applications, including playing video games like Doom and Beat Saber. The model, compiled over years with AI assistance, was made available for download and has since seen experimental use.
Coinbase engineer Alex Wormuth shared progress on training the simulated fly brain to play Doom, noting that the AI has played thousands of times with limited success. In a separate development, engineer domi demonstrated the fly brain's ability to play Beat Saber, a rhythm-action game that involves slicing targets with virtual lightsabers. A video showcases the simulated fly controlling the in-game character's actions.
Further experimentation with the fly brain has involved its use in other shooter games, where it appears to determine when to turn. Notably, the simulation utilizes the fly's "courtship song" to signal when to shoot. Domi observed that the simulated fly's shooting intensity increases with its perceived level of arousal.
Google's initial brain mapping focused on a female fruit fly, but this latest effort details the mapping of a male fruit fly's brain. The company highlighted this as a significant advancement in neuroscience research, anticipating the model to serve as a foundational resource for future studies. The successful integration into game simulations suggests novel avenues for exploring neural network functionality and behavior.