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

In the last few years, the realm of AI-driven character interaction (RP) has seen a remarkable shift. What started as niche experiments with first-generation chatbots has grown into a thriving community of tools, services, and communities. This overview explores the existing environment of AI RP, from widely-used tools to cutting-edge techniques.

The Emergence of AI RP Platforms

Various platforms have risen as popular centers for AI-assisted storytelling and character interaction. These allow users to engage in both classic role-playing and more mature ERP (erotic role-play) scenarios. Avatars like Stheno, or custom personalities like Poppy Porpoise have become fan favorites.

Meanwhile, other services have gained traction for sharing and sharing "character cards" – customizable AI entities that users can interact with. The Backyard AI community has been particularly active in designing and sharing these cards.

Innovations in Language Models

The accelerated evolution of neural language processors (LLMs) has been a key driver of AI RP's expansion. Models like LLaMA-3 and the legendary "HyperVerbal" (a speculative future model) demonstrate the expanding prowess of AI in generating consistent and environmentally cognizant responses.

Fine-tuning has become a essential technique for adjusting these models to unique RP scenarios or character personalities. This process allows for more sophisticated and stable interactions.

The Movement for Privacy and Control

As AI RP has grown in popularity, so too has the call for data privacy and user control. This has led to the rise of "local LLMs" and on-premise model deployment. Various "Model Deployment" get more info services have sprung up to meet this need.

Initiatives like Undi and implementations of CogniScript.cpp have made it achievable for users to run powerful language models on their own hardware. This "local LLM" approach attracts those worried about data privacy or those who simply appreciate customizing AI systems.

Various tools have grown in favor as intuitive options for managing local models, including advanced 70B parameter versions. These larger models, while computationally intensive, offer enhanced capabilities for complex RP scenarios.

Pushing Boundaries and Exploring New Frontiers

The AI RP community is known for its creativity and willingness to push boundaries. Tools like Orthogonal Activation Steering allow for fine-grained control over AI outputs, potentially leading to more dynamic and unpredictable characters.

Some users search for "abiliterated" or "augmented" models, striving for maximum creative freedom. However, this sparks ongoing moral discussions within the community.

Niche platforms have surfaced to address specific niches or provide unique 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 trends are becoming apparent:

Growing focus on self-hosted and secure AI solutions
Development of more powerful and streamlined models (e.g., speculated LLaMA-3)
Exploration of groundbreaking techniques like "perpetual context" for maintaining long-term context
Fusion of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more lifelike experiences
Characters like Poppy Porpoise hint at the prospect for AI to generate entire virtual universes and elaborate narratives.

The AI RP space remains a nexus of invention, with communities like Backyard AI expanding the limits of what's achievable. As GPU technology evolves and techniques like neural compression improve efficiency, we can expect even more astounding AI RP experiences in the coming years.

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 infinite opportunities for creativity and discovery.