The Evolution of AI in Video Games: From Finite State Machines to LLMs The Evolution of AI in Video Games: From Finite State Machines to LLMs The history of "AI in video games" is a story of increasing sophistication, transforming simple, repetitive enemies into complex, adaptive Non-Player Characters ("NPCs") that create truly dynamic virtual worlds. When most people think of "Artificial Intelligence (AI)", they think of large language models (LLMs) or self-driving cars. However, one of the oldest and most consistently evolving applications of AI is found within "video games". From the simple maze-solving logic of Pac-Man's ghosts to the highly adaptive tactical squads in modern first-person shooters, game AI has always been the key ingredient that makes a virtual world feel challenging and alive. For decades, the goal of "game development" has been...