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

In recent years, the world of AI-powered role-playing (RP) has seen a dramatic transformation. What originated as fringe projects with early language models has grown into a thriving community of applications, services, and enthusiasts. This piece investigates the existing environment of AI RP, from popular platforms to innovative techniques.

The Rise of AI RP Platforms

Various services have come to prominence as popular centers for AI-assisted storytelling and immersive storytelling. These allow users to engage in both classic role-playing and more adult-oriented ERP (intimate character interactions) scenarios. Characters like Stheno, or user-generated entities like Midnight Miqu have become fan favorites.

Meanwhile, other services have become increasingly favored for hosting and sharing "character cards" – ready-to-use digital personas that users can converse with. The Chaotic Soliloquy community has been particularly active in designing and distributing these cards.

Breakthroughs in Language Models

The accelerated development of advanced AI systems (LLMs) has been a crucial factor of AI RP's proliferation. Models like LLaMA CPP and the fabled "Mythomax" (a speculative future model) demonstrate the growing potential of AI in producing logical and environmentally cognizant responses.

AI personalization has become a crucial technique for adapting these models to specific RP scenarios or character personalities. This process allows for more nuanced and consistent interactions.

The Push for Privacy and Control

As AI RP has grown in popularity, so too has the demand for confidentiality and personal autonomy. This has led to the emergence of "local LLMs" and on-premise model deployment. Various "Model Deployment" services have been created to address this need.

Initiatives like Undi and implementations of NeuralCore.cpp have made it possible for users to run powerful language models on their own hardware. This "self-hosted model" approach resonates with those worried about data privacy or those who simply enjoy tinkering with AI systems.

Various tools have grown in favor as accessible options for deploying local models, including impressive 70B parameter versions. These larger models, while processing-heavy, offer improved performance for intricate RP scenarios.

Pushing Boundaries and Venturing into New Frontiers

The AI RP community is recognized for its creativity and determination to challenge limits. Tools like Orthogonal Activation Steering allow for detailed adjustment over AI outputs, potentially leading to more versatile and unpredictable characters.

Some users search for "unrestricted" or "augmented" models, striving for maximum creative freedom. However, this raises ongoing philosophical conversations within the community.

Specialized tools have emerged to address specific niches or provide alternative 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 anticipate the future, several patterns are emerging:

Heightened focus on local and private AI solutions
Advancement of more powerful and optimized models (e.g., anticipated LLaMA-3)
Research of novel techniques like "perpetual context" for sustaining long-term context
Integration of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more engaging experiences
Entities like Poppy Porpoise hint at the possibility for AI to create entire virtual universes and expansive narratives.

The AI RP field remains a nexus of invention, with collectives like IkariDev expanding the limits of what's achievable. As GPU technology evolves and techniques like quantization improve efficiency, we can expect even more remarkable AI RP experiences in the website 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 limitless potential for imagination and discovery.