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Microsoft to Open Source Minecraft-Based Project AIX

Posted by msmash on from the learning-and-fun dept.

Microsoft has found a new use of its insanely popular title Minecraft. The company on Monday announced Project AIX, a platform that will let computer scientists experiment with artificial intelligence in its cube-stacking game. For instance, Microsoft says, they can manipulate a character and learn from its actions. Microsoft says that Minecraft, a game it acquired in 2014, is more sophisticated than existing AI research simulations. "You can do survival mode, you can do build battles with your friends, you can do courses, you can implement our own games. This is really exciting for artificial intelligence because it allows us to create games that stretch beyond current abilities said Katja Hofmann, one of the researchers behind AIX. The company initially launched the project for its own testing, but says it will make it available as open source to all in July.

48 comments

  1. !AIX by bradgoodman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Could they have chosen a worse name?

    1. Re:!AIX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Could they have chosen a worse name?

      Yeah. Linux.

      (ducks!)

    2. Re:!AIX by Nutria · · Score: 1

      Those PC drones have probably never heard of the Advanced Interactive eXecutive.

      --
      "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
    3. Re:!AIX by RavenLrD20k · · Score: 1

      And here I had my hopes up that it was a project to build a Mainframe within Minecraft. Now how are my blockheads gonna run nightly batches that fuck up the billing app?

    4. Re:!AIX by Flavianoep · · Score: 2

      I don't think so. AIX(r) is registered trade mark of IBM; I wonder how can Microsoft use that name.

      --
      Linux is for people who don't mind RTFM.
    5. Re:!AIX by Flavianoep · · Score: 1

      Could they have chosen a worse name?

      Yeah. Linux.

      (ducks!)

      I couldn't have thought of that.

      --
      Linux is for people who don't mind RTFM.
    6. Re:!AIX by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 2

      They can't. They will be changing the name shortly, once IBM lawyers get involved.

      Here is the link for those that have never heard of AIX .. http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/...

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
    7. Re:!AIX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The singularity will begin as totally eff'd up spreadsheet in Accounts Receivable.

    8. Re:!AIX by dissy · · Score: 2

      I don't think so. AIX(r) is registered trade mark of IBM; I wonder how can Microsoft use that name.

      My guess is the developers of this AI project are either
      A) too young to know about AIX, or
      B) under the impression that because their project isn't an operating system, it doesn't violate IBMs trade mark on AIX in the sphere of "computer, operating system"

      But still I think you're completely right.

      I'd assume many of the developers that would be using this AI system in Minecraft WILL recognize AIX from elsewhere (very likely IBM) and thus it does cause confusion even if it wasn't a legal issue.

      Also possible is the developers of the AI project may have made the assumption that this project isn't an operating system and so won't infringe on IBMs mark.
      The only problem with that is once the lawyers become involved, it all boils down to what is an operating system and how close to a library does it need to get to cause confusion, and who can better convince a judge (and maybe jury) of their argument. Oops.

      Microsoft, being a company that depends on their "Windows" mark being limited to the definition of an operating system as well, I can only imagine what the MS legal department is screaming right about now. That can't be a fight they want to start, let alone against IBM.

    9. Re:!AIX by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

      SUX?

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    10. Re:!AIX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Could they have chosen a worse name?

      Yeah. Xenix.

    11. Re:!AIX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      AIX is a trademark filed by IBM for several categories relating to operating systems. This is not an operating system. Perhaps you should do a trademark search and see what other IT-related trademarks are filed for AIX, not by IBM, and not for operating systems. Or ask Microsoft's lawyers, I'm sure they understand these points, and are consulted before MS make any kind of announcement.

    12. Re:!AIX by castionsosa · · Score: 5, Funny

      SMIT happens, I guess...

    13. Re:!AIX by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      I'd just make a game called "Windows" if I were IBM, and let Microsoft sweat it.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    14. Re:!AIX by unrtst · · Score: 1

      [minecraft/AIX] is not an operating system.

      Yeah right. You probably think emacs is a lightweight editor too.

    15. Re:!AIX by 0dugo0 · · Score: 1

      That can't be a fight they want to start, let alone against IBM.

      Hope they do, end like SCO.

    16. Re:!AIX by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Emacs is lightweight today relative to what many people use as editors.

    17. Re:!AIX by lakeland · · Score: 1

      I don't see a problem with the name.

      Yeah, 20 years ago IBM sold an operating system with that name. But it's a three letter name, and Microsoft's product isn't an operating system. You have to expect name collisions at 3 letters.

      Unless there was something else you didn't like about AIX?

    18. Re:!AIX by packrat0x · · Score: 1

      SUX?

      Already taken by Sioux City airport.

      --
      227-3517
    19. Re:!AIX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What we have here is someone who has no idea how trademarks work. Google is your friend. Trademarks do not work like that. That's why you can have Bob's Furniture, Bob's Hardware, Bob's Plumbing, Bob, Bob, Bob, and Bob the desktop environment. And another Bob, and another Bob, and a third Bob who sells tires. All of them named just plain Bob and all of them doing different things.

    20. Re:!AIX by ajdlinux · · Score: 1

      IBM still actively maintains AIX today.

    21. Re:!AIX by lakeland · · Score: 1

      Yup, good on them, I'd be disappointed if they didn't.

      But you said maintains, not promotes. I would expect IBM to maintain Cobol and Fortran compilers too. I bet some people still run IRIX too, does that mean we can't use that name for a new product?

      Or how about iOS - they're even both operating systems - but realistically how many people are going to get confused between enterprise switches and a consumer mobile device?

    22. Re:!AIX by malkavian · · Score: 1

      You've been waiting an awful long time to come out with that one, haven't you.. :)

    23. Re:!AIX by boomer_rehfield · · Score: 1

      Oh they still promote it. I work in a shop with ~500 AIX servers.

      --
      Carpe Canem - Seize the Dog
  2. IBM is gonna sue. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That is all.

    1. Re:IBM is gonna sue. by jfdavis668 · · Score: 1

      That was my first thought, too.

    2. Re:IBM is gonna sue. by Locke2005 · · Score: 2

      Because this will TOTALLY cut into their sales of the AIX operating system... oh wait, we had to port our Ion Beam Microscopes from AIX to Linux because nobody supported AIX anymore... so why should IBM give a shit? They've pretty much switched from supporting AIX to Linux anyway.

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    3. Re:IBM is gonna sue. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Because money?
      Because Lawyers?
      Because it's still a legal trademark, and they're required to defend it against possible infringements or else they lose it? I'm sure it will end up working out to some licencing agreement, but there is no way IBM's legal department won't be all over this, if they haven't already.

  3. Awesome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is really awesome, this was one of my thoughts when I saw Minecraft - a great virtual environment for AIs to explore.
    Minecraft physics are sufficiently advanced to be challenging, and yet not overcomplicated.

    It would be amazing to have a minecraft server where people can compete or play alongside AIs. AIs can learn from human players and enrich the game in a new direction with NPCs...

    1. Re:Awesome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Sure, until someone uploads the Minecraft trained AI into one of those Boston Dynamics robots. In some dystopian future there will be swarms of terminators roaming the countryside punching spiders in a vain attempt to make string.

  4. AIX and trade mark issues by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    AIX is a trade mark of IBM for it's Unix like OS. As it is currently in use in the computer space, wouldn't there be a trade mark issue?

    1. Re:AIX and trade mark issues by halivar · · Score: 1

      Well, these guys also have a trademark on AIX in the computer space, so I imagine trademark applicability is a good deal narrower than "computer space".

    2. Re:AIX and trade mark issues by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 1

      It's not UNIX like. It's UNIX. SVR3 based. From Wikipedia, It's even certified UNIX, and it's still under active development.

    3. Re:AIX and trade mark issues by Archfeld · · Score: 1

      Not if IBM owns both. I recall working as an operator & sysadmin on AIX machines in a previous lifetime. They were cumbersome at best, but weren't they RISC based hardware which was all the rage back then.
      http://cs.stanford.edu/people/...

      --
      errr....umm...*whooosh* *whoosh* Is this thing on ?
    4. Re:AIX and trade mark issues by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's about as un-UNIX as a certified UNIX can get.

      AIX is what happened when IBM took all the fun out of UNIX.

    5. Re:AIX and trade mark issues by 0dugo0 · · Score: 1

      I gladly trade any Poetering/systemd infected enterprise box for a POWER w/ AIX.

    6. Re:AIX and trade mark issues by Monkey · · Score: 1

      I did this too! God I feel old.

  5. Eish! by friesofdoom · · Score: 1

    Looks like Microsoft is struggling to find anything useful to do with that $2.5bn 'investment'

    1. Re:Eish! by CrashNBrn · · Score: 2

      Yes. Struggling.

    2. Re:Eish! by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 2

      If they get desperate, they can always boost the dismal uptake of windows 10 by including Minecraft for free.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    3. Re:Eish! by Barlo_Mung_42 · · Score: 1

      That investment was profitable in less than a year.

    4. Re:Eish! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You saying they already made back $2.5 billion in a year? LOL. Maybe in 100 years.

  6. So this is like that time .. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I saw some dingleberry running around in an "A|X" shirt (Armani Exchange), and wondered why anyone would wear a shirt celebrating the OS.

  7. Still can't get over Microsoft owns Minecraft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Opening this up is pretty cool though

  8. Microsoft needs a new trademarks team by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seriously - AIX? A two second Google search, much less a formal trademark search could have easily said DO NOT PICK THIS for a public announcement. Internal project name - sure, but not external.

    Other recent name failures include:
    - Metro
    - SkyDrive
    - Ballmer

    And yes - I pick IBM's Legal team to beat Microsoft's legal team hands down on this one.

    EDIT: Captcha - replica

  9. Comment by WallyL · · Score: 1

    This is not your granddaddy's AIX. Oh, you could get bash for it, but the default was kornshell.