In recent years, the world of AI-assisted storytelling (RP) has undergone a dramatic transformation. What originated as fringe projects with primitive AI has developed into a dynamic landscape of platforms, resources, and user groups. This overview examines the current landscape of AI RP, from widely-used tools to cutting-edge techniques.

The Emergence of AI RP Platforms

Various tools have emerged as well-liked hubs for AI-enhanced fiction writing and character interaction. These allow users to experience both traditional RP and more mature ERP (sensual storytelling) scenarios. Avatars like Noromaid, or original creations like Poppy Porpoise have become popular choices.

Meanwhile, other platforms have grown in popularity for distributing and exchanging "character cards" – customizable AI entities that users can interact with. The Chaotic Soliloquy community has been especially active in designing and spreading these cards.

Breakthroughs in Language Models

The rapid development of advanced AI systems (LLMs) has been a crucial factor of AI RP's proliferation. Models like LLaMA CPP and the fabled "HyperVerbal" (a hypothetical future model) showcase the increasing capabilities of AI in generating coherent and context-aware responses.

Fine-tuning has become a crucial technique for adapting these models to specific RP scenarios or character personalities. This process allows for more refined and stable interactions.

The Movement for Privacy and Control

As AI RP has gained mainstream appeal, so too has the need for confidentiality and personal autonomy. This has led to the emergence of "private LLMs" and self-hosted AI options. Various "AI-as-a-Service" services have sprung up to satisfy this need.

Endeavors like Undi and implementations of NeuralCore.cpp have made it possible for users to utilize powerful language models on their local machines. This "on-device AI" approach appeals to those concerned about data privacy or those who simply relish experimenting with AI systems.

Various tools have gained popularity as intuitive options for deploying local models, including impressive 70B parameter versions. These larger models, while processing-heavy, offer improved performance for complex RP scenarios.

Breaking New Ground and Exploring New Frontiers

The AI RP community is celebrated for its innovation and willingness to break new ground. Tools like Orthogonal Activation Steering allow for detailed adjustment over AI outputs, potentially leading to more versatile and surprising characters.

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

Niche tools have appeared to address specific niches or provide alternative approaches to AI interaction, often with a focus on "privacy-first" 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 developments are emerging:

Growing focus on on-device and confidential AI solutions
Development of more sophisticated and efficient models (e.g., anticipated LLaMA-3)
Investigation of groundbreaking techniques like "neversleep" for preserving long-term context
Fusion of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more engaging experiences
Characters like Euryvale hint at the potential for AI to produce entire imaginary realms and expansive narratives.

The AI RP domain remains a crucible of advancement, with groups website like IkariDev expanding the limits of what's possible. As GPU technology progresses and techniques like quantization boost capabilities, we can expect even more impressive AI RP experiences in the not-so-distant tomorrow.

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