The Progression of AI-Enabled Character Simulation: From Fimbulvetr to Next-Gen Language Models

In the past decade, the domain of AI-assisted storytelling (RP) has experienced a dramatic transformation. What began as experimental ventures with first-generation chatbots has grown into a thriving community of tools, platforms, and enthusiasts. This piece investigates the existing environment of AI RP, from widely-used tools to cutting-edge techniques.

The Growth of AI RP Platforms

Various platforms have come to prominence as favored focal points for AI-enhanced fiction writing and immersive storytelling. These allow users to engage in both conventional storytelling and more adult-oriented ERP (erotic role-play) scenarios. Personas like Noromaid, or user-generated entities like Midnight Miqu have become fan favorites.

Meanwhile, other websites have gained traction for sharing and circulating "character cards" – pre-made AI personalities that users can engage. The Backyard AI community has been particularly active in designing and spreading these cards.

Breakthroughs in Language Models

The swift progression of large language models (LLMs) has been a crucial factor of AI RP's expansion. Models like LLaMA CPP and the fabled "Mythomax" (a theoretical future model) demonstrate the expanding prowess of AI in creating logical and context-aware responses.

Fine-tuning has become a essential technique for tailoring these models to particular RP scenarios or character personalities. This method allows for more sophisticated and reliable interactions.

The Drive for Privacy and Control

As AI RP has gained mainstream appeal, so too has the need for data privacy and individual oversight. This has led to the development of "user-owned language processors" and local hosting solutions. Various "LLM hosting" services have sprung up to satisfy this need.

Endeavors like NeverSleep and implementations of CogniScript.cpp have made it feasible for users to operate powerful language models on their own hardware. This "local LLM" approach appeals to those focused on data privacy or those who simply relish experimenting with AI systems.

Various tools have become widely adopted as accessible options for running local models, including advanced 70B parameter versions. These more sophisticated models, local 70b while GPU-demanding, offer improved performance for complex RP scenarios.

Breaking New Ground and Investigating 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, aiming for maximum creative freedom. However, this raises ongoing philosophical conversations within the community.

Focused services have emerged 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
Creation of more powerful and streamlined models (e.g., speculated LLaMA-3)
Research of innovative techniques like "neversleep" for sustaining long-term context
Combination of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more immersive experiences
Entities like Poppy Porpoise hint at the prospect for AI to create entire fictional worlds and intricate narratives.

The AI RP space remains a nexus of invention, with collectives like Chaotic Soliloquy 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 casual role-player or a committed "neural engineer" working on the next innovation in AI, the domain of AI-powered RP offers limitless potential for innovation and exploration.