Ever since I started playing Morrowind, I wanted the AI to be much more advanced then it was.
I got mods for things, and of course they all have voices and daily activitys, but this is not to the extend I want.
I would like to see bandits attacking more then just me for my money. I would like to see someone go on an exploration for rare items, go back to a shop and sell it.
I want more activity, a flowing world filled with activity that is never once the same and depends simply on what happened throughout the day.
If a shop keeper doesnt have a lot of NPCs come in and purchase things, then he wont restock. If someone is caught stealing, they will be sent to jail.
I can go on and on, but the simple fact is what I want most from this game is to be able to immersively roleplay with NPCs and actually feel like they are just as alive as I am.
They dont have to be super computers, but I would like to see them actually get stuff done instead of the simple walk around town, stand in bedroom for one hour, sleep, wake up, stand in bedroom for one hour, repeat.
Opinions?

I think this is one of the things Bethesda plans to improve on. The AI in oblivion was revolutionary and hopefully we will be able to say the same about skyrim.

Like I've stated in several of my posts

New engine=different game. some similar qualities, but mainly a new game

Do we really need NPC's to go from one city to the other as I think thats a big waste of time as they will get killed in the wilds unless they are tweaked to survive.

For me, AI is one of the more important AI, especially combat AI.
Outside of combat, I want NPCs to have actual lives, at a glance. If you followed one around you would think it's [censored], but just seeing them for a few minutes here and there, I want them to be doing things. I also want things to change while I'm not there.
I want to see the occasional pickpocket. I want to witness the occasional mugging or murder or arrest or bar fight. I also want to see NPCs just sitting and reading, eating, or doing simple chores. All of the little things really add up.

In combat AI is what I really want improved. different enemies having different AI sets and battle tactics or whatever, based on their stats. A NPC with a high sneak would sneak up on you, high restoration would absorb your skills before attacking. Or some NPCs choosing not to engage and just sneak off if your reputation precedes you or you've just killed a few of their buddies.

There're just too many things I want to say and suggest, but here is a small chunk off the tip of the iceberg at least.

This.

I always shop in anvil, it would be cool if the smithy there developed into a booming business because of all the fat lutes I brought him.

Both AI improved would make me happy.
An AI with strategy in battle besides just going head first into a battle with there fists out? That would be amazing.
An AI noticing you in the store you are both in quite often and starting conversation? Even better.

Although I want what you want, I believe it's impossible to satisfy you or me. There is simply too much thought and time required to put in such an expansive AI and have it function well. I would personally like a vast array of filler AI that performs difficult tasks, such as populating each city and making each feel alive. I'm sure people would criticize it in due time, but I feel as if it's the easiest solution to a difficult problem. These AI automatically repopulate if you murder a couple of them, making it so each city doesn't feel bustling in the beginning of the game and dead at the end of it. This AI could even be worked into mini-guilds. Maybe they explore, raid caves, patrol roads, that sort of thing.

Yeah that's not true at all.

If the combat AI of Skyrim was similar or even better than the Elites in Halo: Reach (on Legendary difficulty) then it would be beyond impressive.

having shopkeepers clean their shops if you mess them up, seeing hobos and beggers on the road picking up items of value, some people actually pillaging deserted camps, and of course people running in fear if you screw over enough of their buddies (or if you kill a few guys silently and they find their bodies they will actually have a reaction like being scared or really pissed)
Sigh, so many possibilities... the true question though... is the engine capable?

It'd be nice if shopkeepers weren't so willing to buy a whole lot of low class items off you... It stretched credibility to think that the demand for fur greaves in the Imperial city so dramatically outweighed their supply that the armorer would buy loads of them off you.

Get ready to be impressed

an immersive world is always a better world

Yes, if enemies can sidestep, dodge, and block believably in combat, I'll be very happy. The "casual", I guess you could say, AI features should look nice, but it's combat AI that I'm concerned with.

Hopefully the Guards AI is toned down in the area of Crime Detection.

Guard runs up to you

Guard-Stop in the name of the law we heard you murder (Random NPC) now pay the fine or go to Jail

Me- But I didn't commit the crime I was in here because the owner let me in the door wasn't a red flag

Guard- Then why did my spider sense go off when you murdered that (Random NPC).

Yeah they have to tone down the AI in Crime Detection if you murder someone indoors (Hypothetical) and no one sees you do it then it shouldn't be a bounty just like in Morrowind.

It would be nice if there was no crime detection at all, instead just what guards and civilians see and report.
A man is murdered around the corner from the guard, he wont know anything until he physically has the body in his sites and can even put together that you were the one to kill him.
Filler NPCs would be great as well, with randomly generated names and personality's, that would definitely seem to make the game alive.
I'm expecting combat AI to be much better. Lets hope there will actually be NPCs sneak attacking you, marksman hiding in a high spot, and maybe even mages using the environment to there advantage (Such as burning foliage (Which is hopefully in this game))