OpenAI successfully trained a Minecraft bot using 70,000 hours of gameplay videos

Why it matters: Minecraft may not sound like an important tool that supports advanced AI research. After all, what could possibly be so important about teaching a machine to play a sandbox game released more than a decade ago? Based on OpenAI's recent efforts, a well-trained Minecraft bot is more relevant to AI advancement than most people might realize. OpenAI has always focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning advances that benefit humanity. Recently, the company successfully trained a bot to play Minecraft using more than 70,000 hours of gameplay videos. The achievement is far more than just a bot playing a game.