NEO NPCs is Ubisoft’s new project that utilizes Generative AI to create a new type of NPC that players can engage with on a deeper level without relying on pre-defined dialogues to generate realistic conversations. Developed by Ubisoft Paris, NEO NPCs leverages two technologies:
1. Audio2Face: Utilizing AI to create lifelike facial animations from spoken words.
2. Inworld’s Large Language Model: Using AI to generate realistic and natural text.
The main goal of NEO NPCs is to empower storytellers to create characters, write compelling narratives, and teach models to respond to players’ interactions while also preventing disruptive player behavior or offensive language towards NPCs. Currently, NPCs created through this project are constrained by predefined roles and character storylines, limiting their ability to freely interact with players.
While the ultimate goal of the project is to create NPCs capable of generating real-time conversations, Guillemette Picard, Deputy Head of Ubisoft’s Production Technology, confirms that the project is still driven by real people. She emphasizes that the project will only hold value when it proves its usability with players, requiring the collaboration of developers and creative thinkers.
NEO NPCs is in its early stages of development, with many aspects needing improvement before being ready for actual use in games. Developers aim to provide flexible and beneficial tools that cater to both AAA and indie games.
Source: Ubisoft via Gamespot
TLDR: Ubisoft’s NEO NPCs project uses Generative AI to create NPCs with realistic interactions, with a focus on empowering storytellers and preventing disruptive player behavior. While the goal is to have NPCs capable of real-time conversations, the project is still in early development stages.
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