Curiosity could help artificially intelligent machines advance

A computer algorithm equipped with a form of artificial curiosity can learn to solve tricky problems even when it isn't immediately clear what actions might help it reach this goal. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, developed an "intrinsic curiosity model" to make their learning algorithm work even when there isn't a strong feedback signal. The researchers tried the approach, in combination with reinforcement learning, within two simple video games: Mario Bros., a classic platform game, and VizDoom, a basic 3-D shooter title. Pierre-Yves Oudeyer, a research director at the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation, has pioneered, over the past several years, the development of computer programs and robots that exhibit simple forms of inquisitiveness.