A modern board gaming term referring to a mechanism that is similar to playing against a computer in a video game. In a board game, the AI mechanism uses a set of rules to simulate an additional opponent. This is most often used to create a solo (single-player) mode in an otherwise multi-player game, or it may be used to add tension or difficulty to a two or three player game. Often it involves blocking off spaces, drawing random cards/rolling dice to simulate an opponents “actions”.

A common trend over the past decade or so is to deliberately incorporate an AI mechanism into Euro games upon release, often with unique components.

Example: Tidal Blades, Root, Dune: Imperium