Microsoft’s AI just got a perfect score on Mrs. Pacman
Games and play help humans learn new skills, especially when we're young, but it increasingly looks like AI's are the superior game players
Key takeaways
- Pac Man and eventually it got the highest score possible, 999,990, which, as far as anyone can tell, is the first time anyone, or anything for that matter has aced the game.
- Pac Man, seen here on the Atari 2600, has many variables inside it - there are the dots, of course, and the ghosts tracking the player down.
- The Maluuba team broke these variables down into several agents, 150, to be exact, so the AI could focus on several small tasks as opposed to one large one.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2017) 'Microsoft’s AI just got a perfect score on Mrs. Pacman', 311 Institute, 11 July. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/microsofts-ai-just-got-a-perfect-score-on-mrs-pacman/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Video games are one of the best ways to train Artificial Intelligence (AI) - they offer risk free digital environments for learning machines to learn and make mistakes, but once AI gets good, it can be unstoppable.
Maluuba, a company that was recently bought by Microsoft, just let loose a learning AI on Ms. Pac Man and eventually it got the highest score possible, 999,990, which, as far as anyone can tell, is the first time anyone, or anything for that matter has aced the game.
You puny human, get out of the office and get back to playing games! Save humanity’s dignity!
Ms. Pac Man, seen here on the Atari 2600, has many variables inside it - there are the dots, of course, and the ghosts tracking the player down. Then there are the ghosts you track down and the pieces of fruit that suddenly appear. The Maluuba team broke these variables down into several agents, 150, to be exact, so the AI could focus on several small tasks as opposed to one large one.
Considering how AI's have also mastered a mixture of other Atari games, as well as the ancient game of Go, Poker and even pig wrangling, which apparently helps them become better negotiators, they could all probably get together for a heck of a gaming night. That said though Minecraft has proven to be more of a struggle… ha ha stupid AI’s.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Games and play help humans learn new skills, especially when we're young, but it increasingly looks like AI's are the superior game players
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
What future do you need to see?
Choose one to get started on AI and intelligence and the future of your organisation.
Sources and further reading
- Maluuba maluuba.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 11 July 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). Microsoft’s AI just got a perfect score on Mrs. Pacman. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/microsofts-ai-just-got-a-perfect-score-on-mrs-pacman/
You are welcome to quote this article with credit and a link to the original.