The Progression of AI-Driven Interactive Storytelling: From Ancient Myths to Local 70B Models
In the past decade, the world of AI-powered role-playing (RP) has experienced a significant evolution. What originated as niche experiments with primitive AI has developed into a vibrant ecosystem of platforms, services, and enthusiasts. This article explores the present state of AI RP, from widely-used tools to groundbreaking techniques.
The Growth of AI RP Platforms
Various platforms have emerged as popular centers for AI-enhanced fiction writing and immersive storytelling. These allow users to engage in both traditional RP and more adult-oriented ERP (intimate character interactions) scenarios. Avatars like Noromaid, or custom personalities like Midnight Miqu have become popular choices.
Meanwhile, other websites have become increasingly favored for distributing and circulating "character cards" – customizable AI entities that users can converse with. The Backyard AI community has been especially active in designing and sharing these cards.
Advancements in Language Models
The rapid progression of advanced AI systems (LLMs) has been a crucial factor of AI RP's growth. Models like LLaMA-3 and the fabled "OmniLingua" (a theoretical future model) showcase the expanding prowess of AI in creating consistent and context-aware responses.
AI personalization has become a vital technique for tailoring these models to specific RP scenarios or character personalities. This approach allows for more sophisticated and consistent interactions.
The Movement for Privacy and Control
As AI RP has become more widespread, so too has the demand for data privacy and user control. This has led to the development of "local LLMs" and self-hosted AI options. Various "LLM hosting" services have been created to address this need.
Endeavors like Undi and implementations of CogniScript.cpp have made it feasible for users to run powerful language models on their personal devices. This "local LLM" approach attracts those concerned about data privacy or those who simply appreciate tinkering with AI systems.
Various tools have become widely adopted as user-friendly options for managing local models, including impressive 70B parameter versions. These more complex models, while computationally intensive, offer enhanced capabilities for complex RP scenarios.
Pushing Boundaries and Exploring New Frontiers
The AI RP community is known for its inventiveness and determination to break new ground. Tools like Cognitive Vector Control allow for precise manipulation over AI outputs, potentially leading to more versatile and unpredictable characters.
Some users seek out "abiliterated" or "augmented" models, striving for maximum creative freedom. However, this sparks ongoing ethical debates within the community.
Specialized tools have appeared to serve specific niches or provide alternative approaches to AI interaction, often with a focus on "data protection" policies. Companies like recursal.ai and featherless.ai are among those exploring innovative approaches in this space.
The Future of AI RP
As we envision the future, several developments are emerging:
Heightened focus on on-device and confidential AI solutions
Creation of more powerful and streamlined models (e.g., speculated LLaMA-3)
Research of innovative techniques like "neversleep" for sustaining long-term context
Combination of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more immersive experiences
Personas like Poppy Porpoise hint at the prospect for AI to create entire virtual universes and elaborate more info narratives.
The AI RP space remains a nexus of innovation, with collectives like Chaotic Soliloquy pushing the boundaries of what's attainable. As GPU technology progresses and techniques like quantization enhance performance, we can expect even more impressive AI RP experiences in the coming years.
Whether you're a casual role-player or a committed "quant" working on the next innovation in AI, the domain of AI-powered RP offers limitless potential for innovation and discovery.