Microsoft appears to be working on 3D gaming experiences for Copilot | TechCrunch

Microsoft appears to be working on 3D gaming experiences for Copilot, its AI-powered chatbot platform, according to a new job listing.

The listing, published this week, seeks a senior software engineer based in Beijing specializing in 3D rendering engines, particularly engines typically used to build web browser-based video games (Babylon.js, three.js, and Unity).

“Are you passionate about gaming and interested in building innovative solutions for billions of users?” the job description reads. “If you have a background in gaming or a strong passion for it, this is the perfect opportunity for you!”

Microsoft has previously indicated that it plans to make gaming a larger part of the Copilot experience.

In February, Microsoft demoed an AI model, Muse, that the company said will soon power short interactive games on Copilot. Trained on game developer Ninja Theory’s multiplayer battle arena game, Bleeding Edge, Muse can understand the 3D game world, including game physics and how the game reacts to players’ controller actions, allowing the model to create gameplay rendered by AI.

In a separate announcement last May, Microsoft said that it was working to embed Copilot into video games, starting with Minecraft. The company showed Copilot responding to questions like “How do I craft a sword?” in-game, searching a player’s inventory for the necessary materials and instructing the player on how to obtain key missing components.

In another bid to boost engagement, Microsoft has reportedly been experimenting with “character-based” Copilot features. In January, reverse engineer Alexey Shabanov discovered two animated characters in Copilot designed to interact with users through sound effects and animations.