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Microsoft researcher uses Age of Empires II goats to critique AI anthropomorphism

By PulseAugur Editorial · [10 sources] ·

A Microsoft researcher has created a functional neural network within the video game Age of Empires II, using virtual goats and game mechanics. This project serves as a critique of current AI research, highlighting how many studies prematurely attribute human-like qualities to language models. The researcher suggests that the perception of AI sentience is often based on presentation rather than genuine consciousness, using the game as an analogy to question anthropomorphism in AI. AI

IMPACT Challenges the common practice of anthropomorphizing AI, suggesting a need for more rigorous evaluation of AI capabilities beyond conversational presentation.

RANK_REASON Commentary on AI research methods using a video game analogy.

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AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 10 sources. How we write summaries →

Microsoft researcher uses Age of Empires II goats to critique AI anthropomorphism

COVERAGE [10]

  1. The Decoder TIER_1 English(EN) · Jonathan Kemper ·

    Microsoft researcher builds a working neural network out of goats in Age of Empires II to critique AI science

    <p><img alt="A stylized map of a medieval village featuring walls, buildings, goats, and arrows indicating herd paths and defensive routes." class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="1025" src="https://the-decoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/age-of-empires-llm-li…

  2. Tom's Hardware TIER_1 English(EN) · Mark Tyson ·

    Age of Empires II’s goats used as AI building blocks to build a neural network — goaty experiment mocks the idea of chatbot consciousness, Microsoft AI researcher’s project makes an absurdist point about AI consciousness

    People seem all-too-ready to anthropomorphize LLMs and AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, reckons a Microsoft AI researcher.

  3. Mastodon — sigmoid.social TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    TechSpot: Microsoft researcher builds a working neural network in Age of Empires II using goats. “The researcher said that Age of Empires II contains all the to

    TechSpot: Microsoft researcher builds a working neural network in Age of Empires II using goats. “The researcher said that Age of Empires II contains all the tools needed to replicate the most basic functions required by ChatGPT and other complex AI models to perform semantic tas…

  4. Mastodon — sigmoid.social TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    A Microsoft researcher argues that if LLMs have human-like attributes, then so does Age of Empires II. Adrian de Wynter used the game's goats as logic gates, sh

    A Microsoft researcher argues that if LLMs have human-like attributes, then so does Age of Empires II. Adrian de Wynter used the game's goats as logic gates, showing we lack reliable protocols for evaluating LLM sentience claims. https:// gizmodo.com/frustrated-microso ft-researc…

    LINKS gizmodo.com/frustrated-microsoft-research…
  5. Mastodon — fosstodon.org TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    Age of Empires II’s goats used as AI building blocks to build a neural network — goaty experiment mocks the idea of chatbot consciousness, Microsoft AI research

    Age of Empires II’s goats used as AI building blocks to build a neural network — goaty experiment mocks the idea of chatbot consciousness, Microsoft AI researcher’s project makes an absurdis… People seem all-too-ready to anthropomorphize LLMs and AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude,…

    LINKS tomshardware.com/…/age-of-empires-iis-goa… tomshardware.com/tech-industry
  6. Mastodon — fosstodon.org TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    Microsoft researcher Adrian de Wynter built a functioning LLM neural network inside Age of Empires II using virtual goats. The project proves AI chatbots rely o

    Microsoft researcher Adrian de Wynter built a functioning LLM neural network inside Age of Empires II using virtual goats. The project proves AI chatbots rely on presentation, not actual sentience. # AgeOfEmpires # AI # TechNews # Microsoft # Research # MachineLearning https:// b…

  7. Mastodon — fosstodon.org TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    🎮 Microsoft researcher builds goat-powered neural network in Age of Empires 2 to show why we should 'stop assuming that LLMs behave like humans just because the

    🎮 Microsoft researcher builds goat-powered neural network in Age of Empires 2 to show why we should 'stop assuming that LLMs behave like humans just because they were trained with natural language' "I have this tendency to dial up things to 11 when I really think I need to make a…

    LINKS pcgamer.com/…/microsoft-researcher-builds…
  8. Mastodon — mastodon.social TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    if it is absurd that Age of Empires II goats can embody consciousness, then it should be equally absurd to regard any of the well-known chatbots as anything mor

    if it is absurd that Age of Empires II goats can embody consciousness, then it should be equally absurd to regard any of the well-known chatbots as anything more. an interesting experiment and paper https:// arxiv.org/pdf/2605.31514 # ai # consciousness # aoe2 # goat

    LINKS arxiv.org/…/2605.31514
  9. Mastodon — mastodon.social TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    A Microsoft AI researcher built a neural network inside Age of Empires II using goats to prove a point: if we claim AI is sentient, we must also claim video gam

    A Microsoft AI researcher built a neural network inside Age of Empires II using goats to prove a point: if we claim AI is sentient, we must also claim video games are conscious. The study argues we anthropomorphise too readily. https://www. 404media.co/if-ai-is-sentient- then-so-…

    LINKS 404media.co/if-ai-is-sentient-then-so-is-…
  10. Mastodon — mastodon.social TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    A Microsoft AI researcher built a neural network inside Age of Empires II using goats to prove a point: if we claim AI is sentient, we must also claim video gam

    A Microsoft AI researcher built a neural network inside Age of Empires II using goats to prove a point: if we claim AI is sentient, we must also claim video games are conscious. The study argues we anthropomorphise too readily. https://www. 404media.co/if-ai-is-sentient- then-so-…

    LINKS 404media.co/if-ai-is-sentient-then-so-is-…

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