The Advancement of AI-Driven Role-Playing: From Norse Legends to Next-Gen Language Models

In the past decade, the realm of AI-assisted storytelling (RP) has seen a remarkable shift. What originated as niche experiments with primitive AI has grown into a dynamic landscape of tools, platforms, and communities. This piece examines the existing environment of AI RP, from user favorites to groundbreaking techniques.

The Growth of AI RP Platforms

Various platforms have emerged as popular hubs for AI-enhanced fiction writing and role-play. These allow users to participate in both classic role-playing and more mature ERP (intimate character interactions) scenarios. Avatars like Noromaid, or custom personalities like Poppy Porpoise have become community darlings.

Meanwhile, other services have grown in popularity for hosting and sharing "character cards" – pre-made AI personalities that users can converse with. The Backyard AI community has been especially active in designing and sharing these cards.

Breakthroughs in Language Models

The accelerated evolution of advanced AI systems (LLMs) has been a key driver of AI RP's proliferation. Models like LLaMA CPP and the legendary "Mythomax" (a hypothetical future model) demonstrate the increasing capabilities of AI in creating consistent and context-aware responses.

AI personalization has become a essential technique for adapting these models to unique RP scenarios or character personalities. This approach allows for more refined 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 individual oversight. This has led to the emergence of "local LLMs" and self-hosted AI options. Various "LLM hosting" services have sprung up to satisfy this need.

Initiatives like Undi and implementations of Llama.cpp have made it achievable for users to utilize powerful language models on their personal devices. This "local LLM" approach resonates with those worried about data privacy or those who simply appreciate tinkering with AI systems.

Various tools have grown in favor as accessible options for running local models, including advanced 70B parameter versions. These more complex models, while computationally intensive, offer superior results for complex RP scenarios.

Breaking New Ground and Investigating New Frontiers

The AI RP community is known for its inventiveness and willingness to break new ground. Tools like Neural Path Optimization allow for fine-grained control over AI outputs, potentially leading to more dynamic and surprising characters.

Some users seek out "abiliterated" or "obliterated" models, targeting maximum read more creative freedom. However, this raises ongoing philosophical conversations within the community.

Specialized services have surfaced to cater to specific niches or provide novel 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 anticipate the future, several patterns are emerging:

Growing focus on on-device and confidential AI solutions
Development of more capable and streamlined models (e.g., rumored 70B models)
Investigation of groundbreaking techniques like "neversleep" for preserving long-term context
Combination of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more lifelike experiences
Characters like Poppy Porpoise hint at the possibility for AI to create entire virtual universes and expansive narratives.

The AI RP space remains a crucible of invention, with collectives like Backyard AI pushing the boundaries of what's possible. As GPU technology advances and techniques like quantization enhance performance, we can expect even more remarkable AI RP experiences in the not-so-distant tomorrow.

Whether you're a curious explorer or a dedicated "quant" working on the next breakthrough in AI, the world of AI-powered RP offers endless possibilities for creativity and exploration.