In the past decade, the realm of AI-driven character interaction (RP) has experienced a dramatic transformation. What originated as niche experiments with early language models has developed into a dynamic landscape of platforms, resources, and communities. This overview explores the existing environment of AI RP, from widely-used tools to groundbreaking techniques.

The Rise of AI RP Platforms

Various tools have emerged as favored focal points for AI-powered narrative creation and character interaction. These allow users to experience both traditional RP and more mature ERP (sensual storytelling) scenarios. Avatars like Stheno, or original creations like Poppy Porpoise have become popular choices.

Meanwhile, other platforms have grown in popularity for sharing and circulating "character cards" – pre-made AI personalities that users can engage. The IkariDev community has been notably active in crafting and sharing these cards.

Advancements in Language Models

The swift progression of neural language processors (LLMs) has been a key driver of AI RP's growth. Models like LLaMA-3 and the mythical "OmniLingua" (a theoretical future model) demonstrate the expanding prowess of AI in creating logical and environmentally cognizant responses.

Fine-tuning 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 privacy and user control. This has led to the emergence of "local LLMs" and self-hosted AI options. Various "AI-as-a-Service" services have emerged to address this need.

Initiatives like Undi check here and implementations of NeuralCore.cpp have made it feasible for users to operate powerful language models on their personal devices. This "on-device AI" approach appeals to those concerned about data privacy or those who simply enjoy tinkering with AI systems.

Various tools have gained popularity as intuitive options for managing local models, including advanced 70B parameter versions. These more complex models, while GPU-demanding, offer improved performance for complex RP scenarios.

Pushing Boundaries and Exploring New Frontiers

The AI RP community is celebrated for its inventiveness 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, striving for maximum creative freedom. However, this raises ongoing ethical debates within the community.

Focused services have emerged to address 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:

Growing focus on local and private AI solutions
Advancement of more capable and efficient models (e.g., anticipated LLaMA-3)
Research of innovative techniques like "neversleep" for preserving long-term context
Integration of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more engaging experiences
Characters like Euryvale hint at the potential for AI to create entire fictional worlds and intricate narratives.

The AI RP space remains a nexus of innovation, with collectives like IkariDev redefining the possibilities of what's possible. As GPU technology progresses and techniques like quantization enhance performance, we can expect even more astounding AI RP experiences in the coming years.

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