The OpenAI Five, a roster of artificial intelligence bots, handily defeated a team of humans in popular strategy game Dota 2, setting the stage for their long-awaited return to The International.
In last year's edition of The International, the world's premier Dota 2 tournament, OpenAI showed that it may be the new best Dota 2 player by beating the world's top human players in 1-on-1 matches. This year, OpenAI is now looking to become the new best Dota 2 team.
OpenAI Five Vs Humans In Dota 2
In June, San Francisco-based OpenAI reached a new milestone in artificial intelligence research when its bots learned to beat humans in 5-on-5 team matches in Dota 2. The roster of bots, named the OpenAI Five, use neutral networks to not only learn how to play Dota 2, but also to team up with their AI teammates.
With training equivalent to playing 180 years' worth of games, the OpenAI Five started being teams composed of amateur Dota 2 players in June. Two months later, the bots have earned further credibility by beating a team composed of Dota 2 veterans.
The OpenAI Five went up against three former Dota 2 professional players, namely Ben "Merlini" Wu, Ioannis "Fogged" Loucas, and William "Blitz" Lee; current professional player David "MoonMeander" Tan; and caster Austin "Capitalist" Walsh.
There were a few conditions to make the game manageable for the OpenAI Five, including narrowing the Dota 2 roster to only 18 heroes from over 100 heroes, and making item delivery couriers invincible. The conditions, however, did not detract from how badly the bots beat the human players, with Walsh summing things up perfectly.
Never felt more useless in my life but we're having fun at least so I think we're winning in spirit.
Sure aren't winning in-game — Cap (@DotACapitalist) August 5, 2018
The OpenAI Five won in convincing fashion in the first two games, displaying outstanding teamwork to prevent the human team from taking enemy towers in the first match and only one tower in the second match. The bots lost the third match when the audience picked the heroes that they would use, allowing the human team to select heroes that countered their AI opponents.
OpenAI In The International
Up next for the OpenAI Five is to challenge the best Dota 2 players in the world in The International, which will run from Aug. 20 to Aug. 25.
The developers noted that in May, the OpenAI Five were losing to amateur players. However, by June, the bots were winning against them, and now, they are dominating against Dota 2 experts. In a few weeks, how strong will the OpenAI Five be at The International?
