The Progression of AI-Driven Role-Playing: From Norse Legends to Local 70B Models
In the last few years, the domain of AI-driven character interaction (RP) has experienced a significant evolution. What began as experimental ventures with first-generation chatbots has blossomed into a thriving community of tools, services, and communities. This piece explores the current landscape of AI RP, from widely-used tools to cutting-edge techniques.
The Emergence of AI RP Platforms
Various tools have emerged as favored focal points for AI-enhanced fiction writing and immersive storytelling. These allow users to participate in both traditional RP and more mature ERP (intimate character interactions) scenarios. Characters like Euryvale, or custom personalities like Midnight Miqu have become fan favorites.
Meanwhile, other services have become increasingly favored for distributing and sharing "character cards" – ready-to-use digital personas that users can engage. The Backyard AI community has been notably active in crafting and sharing these cards.
Advancements in Language Models
The rapid evolution of advanced AI systems (LLMs) has been a crucial factor of AI RP's expansion. Models like LLaMA CPP and the fabled "HyperVerbal" (a hypothetical future model) highlight the expanding prowess of AI in creating logical and environmentally cognizant responses.
AI personalization has become a vital technique for tailoring these models to particular RP scenarios or character personalities. This method allows for more sophisticated and consistent interactions.
The Push for Privacy and Control
As AI RP has grown in popularity, so too has the need for data privacy and personal autonomy. This has led to the emergence of "local LLMs" and local hosting solutions. Various "LLM hosting" services have been created to satisfy this need.
Initiatives like Undi and implementations of Llama.cpp have made it possible for users to utilize powerful language models on their personal devices. This "local LLM" approach resonates with those concerned about data privacy or those who simply enjoy customizing AI systems.
Various tools have become widely adopted as user-friendly options for managing local models, including powerful 70B parameter versions. These larger models, while processing-heavy, offer improved performance for elaborate RP scenarios.
Exploring Limits and Exploring New Frontiers
The AI RP community is celebrated for its creativity and determination to challenge limits. Tools like Cognitive Vector Control allow for precise manipulation over AI outputs, potentially leading to more dynamic and spontaneous characters.
Some users search for "unrestricted" or "augmented" models, aiming for maximum creative freedom. However, this provokes ongoing ethical debates within the community.
Niche tools have appeared to address specific niches or provide alternative approaches to AI interaction, often with a focus on "privacy-first" policies. Companies like recursal.ai and featherless.ai are among more info those exploring innovative approaches in this space.
The Future of AI RP
As we envision the future, several trends are taking shape:
Heightened focus on local and private AI solutions
Creation of more sophisticated and efficient models (e.g., rumored 70B models)
Research of novel techniques like "eternal memory" for maintaining long-term context
Combination of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more lifelike experiences
Entities like Poppy Porpoise hint at the possibility for AI to produce entire fictional worlds and intricate narratives.
The AI RP field remains a nexus of innovation, with collectives like IkariDev redefining the possibilities of what's possible. As GPU technology progresses and techniques like quantization boost capabilities, we can expect even more remarkable AI RP experiences in the not-so-distant tomorrow.
Whether you're a casual role-player or a dedicated "AI researcher" working on the next discovery in AI, the world of AI-powered RP offers limitless potential for creativity and discovery.