The Progression of AI-Powered Role-Playing: From Ancient Myths to Local 70B Models

In recent years, the domain of AI-assisted storytelling (RP) has seen a significant evolution. What started as fringe projects with primitive AI has grown into a vibrant ecosystem of applications, resources, and enthusiasts. This overview investigates the existing environment of AI RP, from user favorites to innovative techniques.

The Emergence of AI RP Platforms

Various services have emerged as popular focal points for AI-enhanced fiction writing and immersive storytelling. These allow users to experience both classic role-playing and more mature ERP (sensual storytelling) scenarios. Personas like Euryvale, or original creations like Midnight Miqu have become popular choices.

Meanwhile, other services have gained traction for distributing 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 rapid development of neural language processors (LLMs) has been a crucial factor of AI RP's proliferation. Models like LLaMA-3 and the legendary "HyperVerbal" (a speculative future model) demonstrate the expanding prowess of AI in generating consistent and context-aware responses.

Model customization has become a vital technique for adjusting these models to specific RP scenarios or character personalities. This method allows for more refined and stable interactions.

The Push for Privacy and Control

As AI RP has become more widespread, so too has the need for privacy and user control. This has led to the emergence of "user-owned language processors" and local hosting solutions. Various "LLM hosting" services have emerged to address this need.

Initiatives like NeverSleep and implementations of CogniScript.cpp have made it possible for users to run powerful language models on their own hardware. This "on-device AI" 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 adaptable and surprising characters.

Some users search for "unrestricted" or "enhanced" models, striving for maximum creative freedom. However, this raises ongoing ethical debates within the community.

Specialized tools have appeared to serve specific niches or provide alternative 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 taking shape:

Increased focus on on-device and confidential AI solutions
Advancement of more capable and efficient models (e.g., anticipated 70B models)
Exploration of novel techniques like "eternal memory" for preserving long-term context
Integration of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more lifelike experiences
Personas like Poppy Porpoise hint at the prospect for AI to create entire fictional worlds and intricate narratives.

The AI RP domain remains a nexus of invention, with communities like Backyard AI redefining the possibilities of what's achievable. As GPU technology advances and techniques like neural compression improve efficiency, we can expect even more remarkable AI RP experiences in the near future.

Whether you're a occasional storyteller or a passionate "AI researcher" working on here the next discovery in AI, the world of AI-powered RP offers limitless potential for creativity and discovery.