(Yicai Global) April 4 -- Artificial intelligence should be the focus of Giant Interactive Group's future business, as the role of AI in gaming will continue to grow, according to the founder of the Chinese video game developer.

AI will be extensively integrated into games research, development, and operations, Shi Yuzhu, who is also chair of Shanghai-based Giant Interactive, according to the transcript of a speech he gave to the Shanghai-based company and seen by Yicai Global.

AI can support artists and programmers during the R&D process and be used to improve efficiency and save on labor costs, Shi added. It can also find the best stats during the games' design stage and categorize players to provide different gameplay, he noted.

Playtika Holding, an Israeli mobile games developer with no core designs, hired a Tel Aviv University professor to build an algorithm, which creates all of their designs using AI, Shi pointed out. The firm does not develop its games but instead buys material from others and optimizes it via AI, he said.

On average, games bought by Playtika saw a double or triple jump in users within a year, with their revenue soaring 10-fold, Shi noted. “This is the power of AI,” he stressed.

AI could optimize gamers' battle experience and enrich in-game conversations, said Guo Weiwei, chief executive of Chinese developer Seasun Entertainment. Concept artists may become AI trainers in the future, with AI-generated content to be used everywhere and transform the gaming industry in the next five years, Guo added.

Established in 2005, Giant Interactive’s library included the game titles Zheng Tu and Battle of Balls. The firm's revenue rose 2 percent to CNY1.6 billion (USD228.6 million) in the third quarter of last year from a year earlier, while net profit fell 11.3 percent to CNY776 million (USD112.8 million).

Editor: Martin Kadiev