The Progression of AI-Enabled Interactive Storytelling: From Ancient Myths to Local 70B Models

In the past decade, the domain of AI-assisted storytelling (RP) has seen a dramatic transformation. What originated as niche experiments with first-generation chatbots has blossomed into a dynamic landscape of applications, platforms, and user groups. This piece investigates the present state of AI RP, from widely-used tools to groundbreaking techniques.

The Growth of AI RP Platforms

Various platforms have emerged as favored centers for AI-powered narrative creation 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 Lumimaid have become fan favorites.

Meanwhile, other platforms have gained traction for hosting and circulating "character cards" – pre-made AI personalities that users can converse with. The Backyard AI community has been notably active in designing and distributing these cards.

Innovations in Language Models

The rapid development of large language models (LLMs) has been a primary catalyst of AI RP's proliferation. Models like Llama.cpp and the fabled "HyperVerbal" (a theoretical future model) demonstrate the increasing capabilities of AI in generating logical and situationally appropriate responses.

Model customization has become a crucial technique for adjusting 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 gained mainstream appeal, so too has the call for privacy and individual oversight. This has led to the emergence of "private LLMs" and on-premise model deployment. Various "AI-as-a-Service" services have sprung up to satisfy this need.

Projects like NeverSleep and implementations of NeuralCore.cpp have made it achievable for users to operate powerful language models on their own hardware. This "on-device AI" get more info approach appeals to those worried about data privacy or those who simply enjoy experimenting with AI systems.

Various tools have gained popularity as accessible options for running local models, including powerful 70B parameter versions. These more sophisticated models, while GPU-demanding, offer superior results for intricate RP scenarios.

Breaking New Ground and Exploring New Frontiers

The AI RP community is recognized for its inventiveness and willingness to break new ground. Tools like Orthogonal Activation Steering allow for precise manipulation over AI outputs, potentially leading to more adaptable and unpredictable characters.

Some users pursue "unrestricted" or "augmented" models, aiming for maximum creative freedom. However, this sparks ongoing moral discussions within the community.

Focused platforms have emerged to serve specific niches or provide unique 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 look to the future, several trends are taking shape:

Growing focus on on-device and confidential AI solutions
Advancement of more powerful and efficient models (e.g., rumored LLaMA-3)
Investigation of innovative techniques like "perpetual context" for preserving long-term context
Combination of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more lifelike experiences
Entities like Euryvale hint at the prospect for AI to produce entire virtual universes and intricate narratives.

The AI RP domain remains a crucible of invention, with groups like IkariDev expanding the limits of what's achievable. As GPU technology advances and techniques like quantization improve efficiency, we can expect even more impressive AI RP experiences in the near future.

Whether you're a curious explorer or a committed "neural engineer" working on the next breakthrough in AI, the realm of AI-powered RP offers endless possibilities for imagination and adventure.