The Evolution of AI-Powered Interactive Storytelling: From Ancient Myths to Local 70B Models

In the last few years, the world of AI-powered role-playing (RP) has experienced a dramatic transformation. What started as experimental ventures with early language models has grown into a thriving community of platforms, resources, 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 hubs for AI-powered narrative creation and character interaction. These allow users to participate in both conventional storytelling and more risqué ERP (erotic role-play) scenarios. Characters like Euryvale, or user-generated entities like Poppy Porpoise have become fan favorites.

Meanwhile, other platforms have gained traction for distributing and circulating "character cards" – ready-to-use digital personas that users can interact with. The Backyard AI community has been especially active in crafting and distributing these cards.

Breakthroughs in Language Models

The swift progression of advanced AI systems (LLMs) has been a primary catalyst of AI RP's expansion. Models like LLaMA CPP and the legendary "HyperVerbal" (a speculative future model) highlight the increasing capabilities of AI in producing logical and situationally appropriate responses.

AI personalization has become a essential technique for adjusting these models to specific RP scenarios or character personalities. This method allows for more refined and consistent interactions.

The Drive for Privacy and Control

As AI RP has gained mainstream appeal, so too has the demand for confidentiality and individual oversight. This has led to the rise of "local LLMs" and local hosting solutions. Various "AI-as-a-Service" services have been created to satisfy this need.

Projects like Undi and implementations of NeuralCore.cpp have made it achievable for users to run powerful language models on their personal devices. This "on-device AI" approach resonates with those concerned about data privacy or those who simply enjoy experimenting with AI systems.

Various tools have become widely adopted as intuitive options for managing local models, including impressive 70B parameter versions. These larger models, while GPU-demanding, offer improved performance for intricate RP scenarios.

Breaking New Ground and Venturing into New Frontiers

The AI RP community is celebrated website for its inventiveness and determination to break new ground. Tools like Orthogonal Activation Steering allow for fine-grained control over AI outputs, potentially leading to more dynamic and unpredictable characters.

Some users seek out "uncensored" or "obliterated" models, targeting maximum creative freedom. However, this provokes ongoing philosophical conversations within the community.

Focused tools have appeared to serve specific niches or provide unique approaches to AI interaction, often with a focus on "no logging" 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 becoming apparent:

Heightened focus on on-device and confidential AI solutions
Creation of more capable and efficient models (e.g., rumored Quants)
Investigation of innovative techniques like "neversleep" for sustaining long-term context
Fusion of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more engaging experiences
Characters like Euryvale hint at the possibility for AI to produce entire imaginary realms and intricate narratives.

The AI RP field remains a nexus of invention, with collectives like IkariDev redefining the possibilities of what's possible. As GPU technology evolves and techniques like quantization enhance performance, we can expect even more impressive AI RP experiences in the coming years.

Whether you're a curious explorer or a dedicated "AI researcher" working on the next discovery in AI, the world of AI-powered RP offers infinite opportunities for creativity and discovery.