Artificial intelligence tests mean Minecraft will soon be able to play itself (Wired UK)

The sandbox world of Minecraft allows you build practically anything. Soon though, it won't be used simply to create spatial objects, but artificial intelligence systems. At least, that's Microsoft's plan, taking an project aiming to teach AI to make its own decisions and launching it as an open-source testbed. Currently, Microsoft's internal study sees a small team of computer scientists trying to teach a virtual player how to navigate Mojang's blocky world. The AI has only the same available resources a flesh and blood player would have access to, and must learn from its mistakes.