The Evolution of AI-Powered Interactive Storytelling: From Ancient Myths to Local 70B Models
In the last few years, the domain of AI-driven character interaction (RP) has experienced a dramatic transformation. What originated as niche experiments with early language models has grown into a thriving community of tools, services, and enthusiasts. This piece investigates the present state of AI RP, from user favorites to cutting-edge techniques.
The Emergence of AI RP Platforms
Various tools have emerged as favored focal points for AI-powered narrative creation and immersive storytelling. These allow users to engage in both classic role-playing and more adult-oriented ERP (erotic role-play) scenarios. Characters like Euryvale, or custom personalities like Midnight Miqu have become fan favorites.
Meanwhile, other services have grown in popularity for distributing and circulating "character cards" – pre-made AI personalities that users can engage. The IkariDev community has been especially active in crafting and spreading these cards.
Breakthroughs in Language Models
The accelerated progression of large language models (LLMs) has been a key driver of AI RP's growth. Models like LLaMA-3 and the mythical "Mythomax" (a speculative future model) showcase the increasing capabilities of AI in generating coherent and context-aware responses.
Fine-tuning has become a crucial technique for adapting these models to unique RP scenarios or character personalities. This approach allows for more refined and reliable interactions.
The Drive for Privacy and Control
As AI RP has become more widespread, so too has the demand for privacy and individual oversight. This has led to the development of "local LLMs" and on-premise model deployment. Various "Model Deployment" services have sprung up to meet this need.
Initiatives like NeverSleep and implementations of CogniScript.cpp have made it achievable for users to read more run powerful language models on their own hardware. This "local LLM" approach attracts those worried about data privacy or those who simply appreciate experimenting with AI systems.
Various tools have become widely adopted as accessible options for deploying local models, including powerful 70B parameter versions. These more complex models, while GPU-demanding, offer improved performance for intricate RP scenarios.
Exploring Limits and Investigating New Frontiers
The AI RP community is recognized for its creativity and willingness to push boundaries. Tools like Orthogonal Activation Steering allow for detailed adjustment over AI outputs, potentially leading to more adaptable and spontaneous characters.
Some users pursue "uncensored" or "augmented" models, targeting maximum creative freedom. However, this sparks ongoing ethical debates within the community.
Focused tools have appeared to cater to specific niches or provide novel approaches to AI interaction, often with a focus on "privacy-first" policies. Companies like recursal.ai and featherless.ai are among those exploring innovative approaches in this space.
The Future of AI RP
As we look to the future, several patterns are taking shape:
Increased focus on local and private AI solutions
Advancement of more powerful and streamlined models (e.g., speculated LLaMA-3)
Investigation of novel techniques like "eternal memory" for maintaining long-term context
Fusion of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more engaging experiences
Entities like Poppy Porpoise hint at the prospect for AI to generate entire virtual universes and expansive narratives.
The AI RP field remains a hotbed of invention, with collectives like Chaotic Soliloquy redefining the possibilities of what's possible. As GPU technology progresses and techniques like quantization enhance performance, we can expect even more astounding AI RP experiences in the near future.
Whether you're a occasional storyteller or a passionate "quant" working on the next innovation in AI, the realm of AI-powered RP offers infinite opportunities for creativity and discovery.