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

In the past decade, the domain of AI-driven character interaction (RP) has undergone a significant evolution. What started as fringe projects with first-generation chatbots has grown into a dynamic landscape of applications, resources, and user groups. This article explores the current landscape of AI RP, from popular platforms to groundbreaking techniques.

The Growth of AI RP Platforms

Various services have emerged as popular focal points for AI-enhanced fiction writing and immersive storytelling. These allow users to participate in both traditional RP and more risqué ERP (erotic role-play) scenarios. Personas like Stheno, or custom personalities like Poppy Porpoise have become fan favorites.

Meanwhile, other websites have grown in popularity for distributing and exchanging "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 mythical "OmniLingua" (a hypothetical future model) showcase the growing potential of AI in creating coherent and situationally appropriate responses.

AI personalization has become a crucial technique for tailoring these models to unique RP scenarios or character personalities. This approach allows for more nuanced and reliable interactions.

The Movement for Privacy and Control

As AI RP has gained mainstream appeal, so too has the demand for confidentiality and personal autonomy. This has led to the development of "private LLMs" and self-hosted AI options. Various "Model Deployment" services have been created to meet this need.

Projects like Kobold AI and implementations of NeuralCore.cpp have made it feasible for users to run powerful language models on their own hardware. This "on-device AI" approach resonates with those focused on data privacy or those who simply relish customizing AI systems.

Various tools have gained popularity as user-friendly options for managing local models, including advanced 70B parameter versions. These larger models, while computationally intensive, offer improved performance for intricate RP scenarios.

Exploring Limits and Venturing into New Frontiers

The AI RP community is celebrated 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 surfaced to serve 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 orthogonal activation steering to the future, several trends are emerging:

Heightened focus on on-device and confidential AI solutions
Advancement of more capable and efficient models (e.g., rumored Quants)
Research of innovative techniques like "perpetual context" for maintaining long-term context
Fusion of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more engaging experiences
Personas like Poppy Porpoise hint at the prospect for AI to create entire imaginary realms and expansive narratives.

The AI RP domain remains a crucible of innovation, with collectives like Chaotic Soliloquy pushing the boundaries of what's attainable. As GPU technology progresses and techniques like quantization boost capabilities, we can expect even more remarkable AI RP experiences in the near future.

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