Mike Preuss: Beyond entertainment, the science of games

Game AI expert Mike Preuss takes us from the world of Go‑playing algorithms to cutting‑edge chemistry. Hear how Monte Carlo Tree Search, the technique behind AlphaGo, helped enable the first fully automated method for chemical retrosynthesis—an achievement published in Nature.

The Game Lab that Mike runs at LIACS improves game mechanics, collaborates across disciplines, and uses games for education, psychology, and even language learning. From smarter strategy units to serious games that train pilots, this episode shows why games—and game AI—matter far beyond entertainment.

Idea by Dimitra Kouimtzidou

Research, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra Kouimtzidou

Interview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest