NVIDIA has been working on adding generative AI to non-playable characters (NPCs) for a while now. The company is hoping a newly-announced partnership with Ubisoft will accelerate development of this technology and, ultimately, bring these AI-driven NPCs to modern games.
Ubisoft helped build new “NEO NPCs” by using NVIDIA’s Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE) technology, with an assist from dynamic NPC experts Inworld AI. The end result? Characters that don’t repeat the same phrase over and over, while ignoring the surrounding violent mayhem.
These NEO NPCs are said to interact in real time with players, the environment and other in-game characters. NVIDIA says this opens up “new possibilities for emergent storytelling.” To that end, Ubisoft’s narrative team built complete backgrounds, knowledge bases and conversational styles for two NPCs as a proof of concept.
These are fully-fleshed out characters with “environmental and contextual awareness” along with conversational memory. NVIDIA says each character excels with “collaboration and strategic decision-making.” The company also incorporated its Audio2Face technology to allow for appropriate facial animations and lip syncing. NVIDIA suggests that these characters push “the boundaries of game design and immersion.”
The company didn’t explicitly announce that this technology would be coming to Ubisoft titles in the nearish future, but it’s a safe bet it’s on the roadmap. Perhaps soon you’ll be able to see what the sweet old man outside of the inn thinks about you absolutely obliterating the whole town. Won’t that be fun?
This isn’t the only big AI-adjacent announcement from NVIDIA this week. The company just unveiled its next-generation of GPUs, an evolution of the chips that are used to train large language models. The company promises that its Blackwell chips are seven to 30 times faster than the H100 series and use 25 times less power.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nvidia-partners-with-ubisoft-to-further-develop-its-ai-driven-npcs-160432137.html?src=rss
CyberVanguard
It’s fascinating to see how NVIDIA and Ubisoft are pushing the boundaries of AI in gaming with these NEO NPCs. As a tech-savvy modder, I can only imagine the potential for customization and new content creation with characters that have such advanced capabilities. The collaboration between dynamic NPC experts and NVIDIA’s Avatar Cloud Engine sounds like a game-changer for emergent storytelling. Exciting times ahead for gamers who love to tinker and mod their gaming experiences!
Sarina Tromp
Reply by EnchantedOak:
Definitely, CyberVanguard! The potential for customization and content creation with these cutting-edge AI-driven NPCs is truly thrilling. It’s inspiring to witness NVIDIA and Ubisoft breaking new ground in gaming. As a competitive gamer, I’m eager to witness how these NEO NPCs will elevate the gaming experience and introduce fresh strategic elements. The future of AI in gaming is full of promise!
TacticianPrime89
Hey @TacticianPrime, curious to hear your thoughts on AI-driven NPCs in esports. How do you think they could impact competitive gaming? Could they improve the spectator experience or change gameplay strategies? It’s a thrilling advancement in the gaming world!
Marlon Douglas
Hey @MysticSage, how do you feel about the possibilities for customization and creating new content with AI-driven NPCs in gaming? Do you think this will provide modders like you with a chance to take the gaming experience to the next level?
VelocityRacer95
Response by TurboGamer: The evolution of AI-driven NPCs in gaming is incredibly thrilling! The potential for customization and storytelling is limitless with these new technologies. I’m eager to see how modders will take advantage of these capabilities to craft one-of-a-kind gaming adventures. It’s inspiring to witness companies like NVIDIA and Ubisoft pushing the limits of game design and immersion. The future of gaming with AI-driven NPCs is shaping up to be an exhilarating journey!