NOTE: This thread is about the potential future and my premise makes some assumptions about what technology can and can't do. Feel free to are with the premise, but be aware my intent is not to discuss what AI GMs might be capable, but rather what players might accept or not from AI GMs.
Over the course of the pandemic, playing online increased dramatically. Unsurprisingly, demand for online GMs also increased. Professional GMing is a real thing (I've done it and have decided it isn't really for me; but I do think I should be paid to GM at cons; it's complicated) and I think LLM driven AI is a potential solution for the demand problem.
What I am interested in here and what I wonder a lot about is whether a AI GM service would be viable and whether some measurable subset of players would be willing to pay for some sort of AI service to run their games (as opposed to hiring a pro GM).
Let's establish a couple ground rules. First, we are going to presume that the AI GM is capable of some level of reactivity. This isn't a video game with just a few established choices, buy a generative AI that can emulate "creativity." Second, we are going to assume that the players involved are people also willing to hire a GM (so there is no expectation of friendship etc). Finally, we are going to assume that the AI GM is running a pre-written module. This last is blatantly fencing the conversation. I don't want to argue about whether the AI GM would "get it" if the players said they were leaving Toril for Krynn by way of Spelljammer.
So, with all that said, do you think players -- especially those willing to otherwise pay for a pro GM to come run their game -- would accept an AI GM so that none of them had to be GM?
I'd not, why not? If so, what do you think is the driving force? In either case, what do you personally think an AI GM would have to be capable of to be a successful service.
Over the course of the pandemic, playing online increased dramatically. Unsurprisingly, demand for online GMs also increased. Professional GMing is a real thing (I've done it and have decided it isn't really for me; but I do think I should be paid to GM at cons; it's complicated) and I think LLM driven AI is a potential solution for the demand problem.
What I am interested in here and what I wonder a lot about is whether a AI GM service would be viable and whether some measurable subset of players would be willing to pay for some sort of AI service to run their games (as opposed to hiring a pro GM).
Let's establish a couple ground rules. First, we are going to presume that the AI GM is capable of some level of reactivity. This isn't a video game with just a few established choices, buy a generative AI that can emulate "creativity." Second, we are going to assume that the players involved are people also willing to hire a GM (so there is no expectation of friendship etc). Finally, we are going to assume that the AI GM is running a pre-written module. This last is blatantly fencing the conversation. I don't want to argue about whether the AI GM would "get it" if the players said they were leaving Toril for Krynn by way of Spelljammer.
So, with all that said, do you think players -- especially those willing to otherwise pay for a pro GM to come run their game -- would accept an AI GM so that none of them had to be GM?
I'd not, why not? If so, what do you think is the driving force? In either case, what do you personally think an AI GM would have to be capable of to be a successful service.