New microservices mean state-of-the-art generative AI models can now be integrated into games, tools, and middleware to enable new possibilities such as characters interacting without the need for pre-scripted dialogue.
Today at CES, NVIDIA introduced production microservices for the NVIDIA Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE) that allow developers of games, tools, and middleware to integrate state-of-the-art generative AI models into the digital avatars in their games and applications.
The new ACE microservices let developers build interactive avatars using AI models such as NVIDIA Omniverse Audio2Face (A2F), which creates expressive facial animations from audio sources, and NVIDIA Riva automatic speech recognition (ASR), for building customizable multilingual speech and translation applications using generative AI.
Numerous developers have begun using ACE, including Charisma.AI, Convai, Inworld, miHoYo, NetEase Games, Ourpalm, Tencent, Ubisoft and UneeQ. “Generative AI technologies are transforming virtually everything we do, and that also includes game creation and gameplay,” said Keita Iida, vice president of developer relations at NVIDIA. “NVIDIA ACE opens up new possibilities for game developers by populating their worlds with lifelike digital characters while removing the need for pre-scripted dialogue, delivering greater in-game immersion.”
ACE is being used to transform interactions between players and non-playable characters (NPCs) in games and applications. “For years NVIDIA has been the pied piper of gaming technologies, delivering new and innovative ways to create games,” said Zhipeng Hu, senior vice president of NetEase and head of LeiHuo business group. “NVIDIA is making games more intelligent and playable through the adoption of gaming AI technologies, which ultimately creates a more immersive experience.”
NPCs have historically been designed with predetermined responses and facial animations. This limited player interactions, which tended to be transactional, short-lived and, as a result, skipped by a majority of players.
“Generative AI-powered characters in virtual worlds unlock various use cases and experiences that were previously impossible,” said Purnendu Mukherjee, founder and CEO at Convai. “Convai is leveraging Riva ASR and A2F to enable lifelike NPCs with low-latency response times and high-fidelity natural animation.”
“This is a milestone moment for AI in games,” said Tencent Games. “NVIDIA ACE and Tencent Games will help lay the foundation that will bring digital avatars with individual, lifelike personalities and interactions to video games.”
Source: NVIDIA
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
