iRacing has always focused on offering an unrivaled realistic racing experience for gamers and racing fans. It has always been at the forefront of innovation and has often pushed the boundaries of what innovation was ready for. Now that AI is in the mix and readily available, iRacing is ready to take the next step.
This step will be taken in collaboration with Microsoft Research to explore a large action model and its ability to perform physical and virtual tasks. The creation of the models will provide a foundation for advanced improvements such as AI-based driving and coaching. Microsoft and iRacing both intend to publish their findings. iRacing developers hope to learn from the leaders of AI and apply the results directly to the simulator.
“We couldn’t be more excited to work with Microsoft on new AI-based learning models which hopefully will lead to iRacers having even a better experience, not to mention improving their racecraft and performance,” said iRacing president Tony Gardner. “Our goal is to leverage the realism and quality of our existing product, build upon our market-leading existing single player opponent AI, and learn from the collaboration with Microsoft Research to create new and improved features that will benefit all iRacers.”
“This collaboration with iRacing will help advance our scientific knowledge and ability to build AI systems that span and connect between the physical and virtual worlds,” said Peter Lee, President, Microsoft Research. “It’s about AI that understands how skilled people act and interact, and collaborate and compete, with each other, in potentially extreme situations.”
Longtime INDYCAR driver Oriol Servia started the collaboration and will server as a collaborator and expert. Servia ran more than 200 races and 12 Indianapolis 500 starts.
