I was recently linked to a Slashdot Games story about a competition to create the best Super Mario Bros AI. In this version of the game, levels are randomly generated and coders will have to find a smart and savvy way to make Mario autonomously negotiate obstacles and get to the end safely.
There’s a top prize of about US$500, but really, this just sounds like a good bout of fun either way. AI enthusiasts should bring their attention to the competition page to learn more.