Revolutionizing Gaming Through AI Technology

In this episode, Kylan Gibbs, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Inworld AI, takes us on a deep dive into how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the gaming industry. Inworld AI is at the forefront of this transformation, making virtual worlds more realistic and immersive through dynamic and responsive AI-powered characters. Kylan explains how their technology goes beyond traditional NPCs, evolving them into entities with memories, evolving personalities, and real-time interactive capabilities that adjust based on the player’s actions.

Transforming NPCs into Dynamic Companions

When asked to describe Inworld AI, Kylan compares it to a game engine that brings games to life by enhancing NPC behavior and interactivity. The company’s AI technology allows NPCs to remember past interactions and adapt their behavior accordingly, creating a co-op gaming experience that feels almost human. This innovation could change the way players interact with NPCs, making them more like true teammates who remember details, adapt their strategies, and engage in meaningful conversations.

Real-Time Interactivity: The Next Gaming Frontier

Kylan highlights that one of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—in game development today is ensuring real-time responsiveness from AI systems. He describes how Inworld AI’s technology allows game environments and NPCs to respond immediately to player actions, creating an experience that goes beyond pre-programmed scenarios. Whether it’s a background character acting autonomously or an in-game companion that can be instructed in real-time, Inworld AI pushes the boundaries of what’s possible, making virtual worlds feel alive.

Overcoming Technical Challenges

Building AI that integrates seamlessly into gaming is not without its difficulties. Kylan discusses how gaming demands for AI models differ significantly from other industries. Games require low latency, high quality, and real-time interactivity, which necessitates customized AI building blocks. Inworld AI has taken on the challenge of optimizing these models for gaming environments, which often involves dealing with hardware limitations like outdated console specifications and ensuring the AI operates efficiently on older devices.

The Ethics of AI in Gaming

Kylan underscores the ethical considerations that must be accounted for as AI continues to shape the gaming industry. With the ability to create persuasive characters and immersive environments, developers must be cautious about the potential for behavior manipulation and influence. Inworld AI emphasizes responsible AI deployment, ensuring developers understand the impact of their designs, especially when games are targeted at younger audiences. Kylan explains that while AI can enhance gaming experiences, maintaining authentic human-to-human connections remains essential.

Expanding Beyond Gaming

While gaming remains the primary focus, Kylan also reveals that Inworld AI is exploring partnerships in other interactive media domains, such as corporate training, educational gamification, and brand engagement. The technology behind Inworld AI’s NPCs and companions can be adapted for a variety of uses, from interactive advertising to gamified learning platforms, showing the versatility of their AI models beyond traditional gaming.

What's Next for Inworld AI?

Kylan shares his excitement about the next steps for Inworld AI, which include bringing AI capabilities to devices directly, reducing reliance on server-side processing. By optimizing their models for on-device use, Inworld AI aims to eliminate latency issues and server costs, potentially making advanced AI gaming experiences accessible even in mobile and freemium gaming scenarios. Kylan also hints at developing new game genres driven by AI, where the technology can control not only dialogue but the entire game state, creating more complex and realistic gaming worlds.

Inworld AI's advancements are paving the way for a new era in gaming, where the line between human players and AI companions continues to blur, offering richer, more immersive experiences for players of all kinds.