It started as an idea on a beach in Barbados, and now it’s one of the ways that researchers around the world evaluate AI. On this week’s episode, Amii Fellow and Canada CIFAR AI Chair Mike Bowling tells us the story behind the Atari benchmark and how video games from the 1980s can be used to test leading-edge AI. It’s a story of how a simple scientific curiosity can turn into something with a big impact.

Production Credits: Lynda Vang - Producer, Chris Onciul - Video Production, Jen Tomski - Social Media

Music Credits: Main Theme - Brooklyn Bridge by Lunareh

Theme from Moon Patrol on the Atari 2600

Death Theme from Pitfall on the Atari 2600