In a fascinating twist on the gaming landscape, Cupertino-based startup Etched has introduced Oasis, a pioneering AI experiment that aims to redefine open-world gaming. This innovative model, developed in collaboration with Decart, offers a unique take on the beloved Minecraft universe, albeit through a rather surreal lens.
Oasis: A New Kind of Gaming Experience
Oasis presents a low-definition interpretation of Minecraft, characterized by its disjointed graphics that evoke a sense of nostalgia while simultaneously challenging the boundaries of creativity. The experience is described as a “hallucinated clone” of the original game, where each frame is generated based on player input and the preceding frame, creating an unpredictable yet engaging environment.
Etched expresses enthusiasm for this AI-driven venture, emphasizing that future iterations of Oasis will leverage advanced hardware to deliver enhanced graphics, potentially reaching 4K resolution. Currently, the model operates on Nvidia’s H100 GPUs, rendering its Minecraft approximation at 360p and 20 frames per second. With the introduction of Sohu, a specialized AI ASIC technology, the platform aims to support up to ten users per H100, promising a more immersive experience.
The developers have trained Oasis using an extensive dataset of recorded Minecraft gameplay, resulting in a product devoid of traditional game engines, logic, or code. This approach highlights the innovative potential of real-time AI content generation, which could revolutionize how interactive experiences are created and consumed.
good point! we don’t think its better than the original game of course, but its different. for us its mainly a showcase for what can be done with real-time AI content generation. think about imagining something and then creating/interacting with it instantly etc
– Decart (@DecartAI) November 1, 2024
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, Etched is also exploring the realm of AI-generated interactive video content, recognizing that approximately 70 percent of internet traffic is attributed to video. This shift opens up new avenues for both professional and amateur developers, allowing them to create entire virtual worlds and games.
Etched envisions a future where large, low-latency, interactive video models become integral to various sectors, including gaming, generative content, and education. The company acknowledges the current limitations of existing models, which tend to be slow and costly for production environments. However, with the development of specialized chips like Sohu, the path to smoother operations appears promising.
When questioned about the appeal of engaging with a game that resembles a distorted version of Minecraft, Decart AI clarified that Oasis is not intended to surpass the original. Instead, it serves as a demonstration of the capabilities of real-time AI content generation in its early stages. The model operates within legal boundaries, drawing inspiration from open-source projects like Minetest, which have successfully coexisted alongside established titles without facing copyright challenges.
