In the past decade, the domain of AI-driven character interaction (RP) has seen a dramatic transformation. What originated as fringe projects with primitive AI has blossomed into a vibrant ecosystem of applications, services, and communities. This piece examines the current landscape of AI RP, from widely-used tools to cutting-edge techniques.

The Emergence of AI RP Platforms

Various platforms have risen as popular centers for AI-assisted storytelling 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 original creations like Poppy Porpoise have become popular choices.

Meanwhile, other platforms have grown in popularity for distributing and sharing "character cards" – ready-to-use digital personas that users can converse with. The Chaotic Soliloquy community has been particularly 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 "Mythomax" (a speculative future model) showcase the growing potential of AI in producing consistent and context-aware responses.

Model customization has become a vital technique for adapting these models to unique RP scenarios or character personalities. This process allows for more nuanced and reliable interactions.

The Drive for Privacy and Control

As AI RP has grown in popularity, so too has the demand for privacy and personal autonomy. This has led to the rise of "private LLMs" and self-hosted AI options. Various "Model Deployment" services have been created to satisfy this need.

Endeavors like Undi and implementations of NeuralCore.cpp have made it possible for users to run powerful language models on their own hardware. This "self-hosted model" approach resonates with those worried about data privacy or those who simply enjoy experimenting with AI systems.

Various tools have grown in favor as intuitive options for running local models, including impressive 70B parameter versions. These larger models, while GPU-demanding, offer improved performance for elaborate RP scenarios.

Breaking New Ground and Venturing here into New Frontiers

The AI RP community is celebrated for its inventiveness and determination to push boundaries. Tools like Orthogonal Activation Steering allow for fine-grained control over AI outputs, potentially leading to more dynamic and unpredictable characters.

Some users seek out "uncensored" or "obliterated" models, aiming for maximum creative freedom. However, this raises ongoing ethical debates within the community.

Focused tools have surfaced to address specific niches or provide unique 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 anticipate the future, several trends are emerging:

Heightened focus on on-device and confidential AI solutions
Advancement of more capable and optimized models (e.g., rumored Quants)
Research of innovative techniques like "perpetual context" for maintaining long-term context
Fusion of AI with other technologies (VR, voice synthesis) for more lifelike experiences
Personas like Poppy Porpoise hint at the prospect for AI to create entire imaginary realms and expansive narratives.

The AI RP domain remains a crucible of innovation, with collectives like Chaotic Soliloquy expanding the limits of what's attainable. As GPU technology progresses and techniques like quantization boost capabilities, we can expect even more remarkable AI RP experiences in the near future.

Whether you're a curious explorer or a committed "neural engineer" working on the next innovation in AI, the world of AI-powered RP offers limitless potential for imagination and exploration.