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

In recent years, the world of AI-assisted storytelling (RP) has undergone a remarkable shift. What began as fringe projects with early language models has grown into a dynamic landscape of tools, services, and enthusiasts. This overview explores the present state of AI RP, from user favorites to groundbreaking techniques.

The Rise of AI RP Platforms

Various platforms have risen as favored focal points for AI-assisted storytelling and role-play. These allow users to participate in both classic role-playing and more risqué ERP (sensual storytelling) scenarios. Personas like Euryvale, or user-generated entities like Poppy Porpoise have become popular choices.

Meanwhile, other websites have become increasingly favored for distributing and circulating "character cards" – customizable AI entities that users can converse with. The Backyard AI community has been especially active in designing and distributing these cards.

Advancements in Language Models

The rapid development of large language models (LLMs) has been a primary catalyst of AI RP's proliferation. Models like Llama.cpp and the legendary "Mythomax" (a speculative future model) highlight the expanding prowess of AI in producing coherent and situationally appropriate responses.

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

The Drive for Privacy and Control

As AI RP has grown in popularity, so too has the need for confidentiality and personal autonomy. This has led to the development of "user-owned language processors" and self-hosted AI options. Various "LLM hosting" services have been created to address this need.

Projects like Undi and implementations of Llama.cpp have made it achievable for users to run powerful language models on their local machines. This "on-device AI" approach appeals to those worried about data privacy or those who simply enjoy experimenting with AI systems.

Various tools have gained popularity as intuitive options for running local models, including powerful 70B parameter versions. These larger models, while GPU-demanding, offer superior results for intricate RP scenarios.

Breaking New Ground and Exploring New Frontiers

The AI RP community is celebrated for its creativity and eagerness to break new ground. Tools like Orthogonal Activation Steering allow for detailed adjustment over AI outputs, potentially leading to more dynamic and unpredictable characters.

Some users pursue "abiliterated" or "obliterated" models, striving for maximum creative freedom. However, this sparks ongoing philosophical conversations within the community.

Specialized services have appeared to address specific niches or provide novel 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 anticipate the future, several developments are becoming apparent:

Heightened focus on local and private AI solutions
Development of more capable and optimized models (e.g., speculated 70B models)
Research of groundbreaking techniques like "eternal memory" for maintaining long-term context
Integration of AI with other technologies (VR, voice read more synthesis) for more engaging experiences
Personas like Lumimaid hint at the prospect for AI to create entire fictional worlds and elaborate narratives.

The AI RP space remains a crucible of innovation, with groups like IkariDev expanding the limits of what's possible. As GPU technology progresses and techniques like quantization enhance performance, we can expect even more impressive AI RP experiences in the near future.

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