NVIDIA has unveiled the NVIDIA Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE), its latest groundbreaking AI model foundry service aims to transform the gaming experience by introducing intelligence to non-playable characters (NPCs) through AI-powered natural language interactions.

With ACE for Games, developers now have the power to create and deploy personalized speech, conversation, and animation AI models in their software and games, revolutionizing player interactivity and enhancing immersion.

NVIDIA ACE Computex 2023

ACE for Games is built on the solid foundation of NVIDIA OmniverseTM and introduces optimized AI models specifically designed for speech, conversation, and character animation. Let’s delve into the key components that make this technology remarkable:

  • NVIDIA NeMo: This module enables developers to build, customize, and deploy language models using proprietary data. These language models can be tailored with captivating lore and character backstories while ensuring safe and productive conversations with the implementation of NeMo Guardrails.
  • NVIDIA Riva: Riva provides automatic speech recognition and text-to-speech capabilities, enabling real-time speech conversations within games.
  • NVIDIA Omniverse Audio2Face: With Audio2Face, developers can instantly create expressive facial animations that synchronize seamlessly with any speech track. This feature includes Omniverse connectors for Unreal Engine 5, allowing effortless integration of facial animation into MetaHuman characters.

Flexibility and customization are key features of ACE for Games, empowering developers to integrate the entire solution or select specific components that suit their needs. This adaptability allows developers to optimize their games with AI-powered interactions, delivering a highly personalized and immersive gaming experience.

To demonstrate the capabilities of ACE for Games, NVIDIA partnered with Convai, an NVIDIA Inception startup, to create a captivating demo called ‘Kairos.’ Convai specializes in cutting-edge conversational AI for virtual game worlds and seamlessly integrated ACE modules into its real-time avatar platform. In the demo, players engage with Jin, an NPC who operates a ramen shop. Thanks to the power of generative AI, Jin responds realistically to natural language queries while staying true to the game’s narrative backstory, providing players with an unprecedented level of interactivity and immersion.

Developers have various deployment options for NVIDIA ACE for Games models, including local deployment or utilizing the cloud through NVIDIA DGXTM Cloud, GeForce RTXTM PCs, or on-premises infrastructure. The neural networks powering ACE for Games are optimized for low latency, a crucial requirement for achieving immersive and responsive interactions in games.

The impact of NVIDIA’s generative AI technologies is already evident in the gaming industry, with notable developers and startups incorporating these technologies into their workflows. GSC Game World, a leading European game developer, plans to leverage Audio2Face in their highly anticipated game, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl. Fallen Leaf, an indie game developer, is utilizing Audio2Face for character facial animation in their thrilling sci-fi adventure, Fort Solis, set on Mars. Furthermore, Charisma.ai, a company dedicated to AI-driven virtual characters, is harnessing the power of Audio2Face to enhance animation in their conversation engine.

NVIDIA’s introduction of the Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE) for Games marks a significant milestone in the gaming industry. By harnessing the power of generative AI, ACE for Games empowers developers to elevate non-playable characters to new heights of intelligence and interactivity. With the potential to revolutionize player immersion, ACE for Games represents a leap forward in AI-driven gaming experiences, setting a new standard for the future of gaming.

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