In the last few years, the realm of AI-assisted storytelling (RP) has experienced a remarkable shift. What originated as experimental ventures with first-generation chatbots has developed into a vibrant ecosystem of platforms, services, and user groups. This piece explores the current landscape of AI RP, from popular platforms to cutting-edge techniques.

The Growth of AI RP Platforms

Various tools have risen as favored hubs for AI-assisted storytelling and character interaction. These allow users to participate in both traditional RP and more adult-oriented ERP (erotic role-play) scenarios. Avatars like Euryvale, or original creations like Midnight Miqu have become popular choices.

Meanwhile, other services have gained traction for distributing and exchanging "character cards" – pre-made AI personalities that users can converse with. The IkariDev community has been particularly active in designing and sharing these cards.

Breakthroughs in Language Models

The swift progression of advanced AI systems (LLMs) has been a key driver of AI RP's proliferation. Models like LLaMA-3 and the fabled "Mythomax" (a hypothetical future model) showcase the expanding prowess of AI in generating logical and context-aware responses.

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

The Drive 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 emergence of "local LLMs" and local hosting solutions. Various "AI-as-a-Service" services have been created to meet this need.

Initiatives like NeverSleep and implementations of CogniScript.cpp have made it possible for users to operate powerful language models on their local machines. This "self-hosted model" approach appeals to those worried about data privacy or those who simply appreciate customizing AI systems.

Various tools have gained popularity as accessible options for deploying local models, including advanced 70B parameter versions. These more sophisticated models, while computationally intensive, offer enhanced capabilities for intricate RP check here scenarios.

Exploring Limits and Investigating 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 spontaneous characters.

Some users pursue "unrestricted" or "enhanced" models, striving for maximum creative freedom. However, this sparks ongoing moral discussions within the community.

Niche services have emerged to cater to 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 look to the future, several trends are becoming apparent:

Heightened focus on on-device and confidential AI solutions
Advancement of more capable and optimized models (e.g., speculated LLaMA-3)
Exploration of groundbreaking techniques like "eternal memory" for preserving long-term context
Combination of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more immersive experiences
Entities like Euryvale hint at the possibility for AI to generate entire fictional worlds and intricate narratives.

The AI RP field remains a hotbed of advancement, with collectives like Chaotic Soliloquy pushing the boundaries of what's attainable. As GPU technology progresses and techniques like quantization improve efficiency, we can expect even more remarkable AI RP experiences in the coming years.

Whether you're a casual role-player or a passionate "AI researcher" working on the next discovery in AI, the realm of AI-powered RP offers endless possibilities for innovation and discovery.