Search algorithms (especially ones using heuristics such as A*) are squarely in the AI category (planning a sequence of actions).
From a broader perspective the entire question of "should these bots seem humanlike or act rational" is a typical AI question (think the 4 squares of AI definitions in R&N). In this example it is specifically of interest to find a path that is not the most rational but rather the most humanlike (well technically I suppose you could find a performance measure to judge humanlike and optimize that and it would be rational after all).
From a broader perspective the entire question of "should these bots seem humanlike or act rational" is a typical AI question (think the 4 squares of AI definitions in R&N). In this example it is specifically of interest to find a path that is not the most rational but rather the most humanlike (well technically I suppose you could find a performance measure to judge humanlike and optimize that and it would be rational after all).