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

In the past decade, the realm of AI-driven character interaction (RP) has seen a significant evolution. What started as fringe projects with first-generation chatbots has grown into a dynamic landscape of platforms, services, and communities. This article investigates the existing environment of AI RP, from user favorites to groundbreaking techniques.

The Emergence of AI RP Platforms

Various platforms have come to prominence as favored centers for AI-powered narrative creation and role-play. These allow users to experience both conventional storytelling and more mature ERP (intimate character interactions) scenarios. Characters like Noromaid, or user-generated entities like Lumimaid have become community darlings.

Meanwhile, other platforms have become increasingly favored for hosting and circulating "character cards" – pre-made AI personalities that users can converse with. The Chaotic Soliloquy community has been notably active in creating and distributing these cards.

Advancements in Language Models

The swift progression of advanced AI systems (LLMs) has been a primary catalyst of AI RP's growth. Models like Llama.cpp and the fabled "Mythomax" (a theoretical future model) highlight the increasing capabilities of AI in producing logical and context-aware responses.

Model customization has become a essential technique for adjusting these models to specific RP scenarios or character personalities. This process allows for more sophisticated and reliable interactions.

The Movement for Privacy and Control

As AI RP has grown in popularity, so too has the demand for confidentiality and individual oversight. This has led to the development of here "private LLMs" and on-premise model deployment. Various "Model Deployment" services have sprung up to meet this need.

Projects like Kobold AI and implementations of Llama.cpp have made it feasible for users to operate powerful language models on their personal devices. This "on-device AI" approach attracts those worried about data privacy or those who simply relish tinkering with AI systems.

Various tools have gained popularity 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 Venturing into New Frontiers

The AI RP community is celebrated for its innovation and eagerness to push boundaries. Tools like Orthogonal Activation Steering allow for fine-grained control over AI outputs, potentially leading to more adaptable and spontaneous characters.

Some users seek out "uncensored" or "augmented" models, targeting maximum creative freedom. However, this sparks ongoing ethical debates within the community.

Focused services have emerged 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 envision the future, several developments are emerging:

Heightened focus on self-hosted and secure AI solutions
Development of more powerful and streamlined models (e.g., speculated Quants)
Investigation of novel techniques like "eternal memory" for preserving long-term context
Integration of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more lifelike experiences
Characters like Euryvale hint at the possibility for AI to produce entire imaginary realms and expansive narratives.

The AI RP domain remains a hotbed of advancement, with communities like Backyard AI pushing the boundaries of what's attainable. As GPU technology advances and techniques like cognitive optimization enhance performance, we can expect even more astounding AI RP experiences in the coming years.

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