It seems that everywhere you go, someone is talking about ChatGPT. From helping to write an episode of South Park, to writing songs and even malware, the AI seems capable of just about anything. Now, a modder is developing a mod for Skyrim VR that brings ChatGPT into the iconic game to make NPCs more realistic.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the latest game in the series. Initially launching in 2011, the game has been remastered for various consoles. A VR version of the popular open-world RPG was first launched in 2017. While The Elder Scrolls VI is in the works, it is rumoured to be years away from release.
The in-progress Skyrim ChatGPT mod by Art From The Machine utilises AI to generate responses. Likewise, the mod uses xVASynth for text-to-speech, which allows the mod developers to voice the NPCs fully. Conversely, the Skyrim ChatGPT mod uses Whisper to translate the player’s speech into text. With the whisper integration, users can speak into their mic and be understood by NPCs.
Recently, Art From The Machine uploaded a video to YouTube showcasing the updated scripting, which allows for lip-syncing and NPC awareness of in-game events.
As of now, the NPC responses sound rather robotic. However, the Skyrim mod clearly has potential. Mount & Blade: Bannerlord already boasts a similar mod that allows players to type questions that NPCs can then answer. Art From The Machine is currently working on a mod that enables NPCs to remember past conversations and events.
“I have a basic memory system set up where I ask ChatGPT to summarise the conversation on exit to help condense it down for future prompts,” writes Art From The Machine on Reddit. “There are much more sophisticated tools out there to handle memory, though, such as Langchain, which I am hoping to implement in the future.”
As is evident in the video, the Skyrim ChatGPT mod makes NPCs aware of their location and even the time of day in-game. It also showcases various conversation snippets with NPCs in the popular RPG.
Jack Brassell is a freelance journalist and aspiring novelist. Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd with a lifelong passion for storytelling. As an author, Jack writes mostly horror and young adult fantasy. Also an avid gamer, she works as the lead news editor at Hardcore Droid. When she isn't writing or playing games, she can often be found binge-watching Parks & Rec or The Office, proudly considering herself to be a cross between Leslie Knope and Pam Beasley.
