At GDC 2024, tech companies offer a glimpse of AI-powered characters

Seraph is a character in 'Project Neural Nexus' by Convai. Players can ask her questions, leading to open-ended conversations. — Convai/TNS

Glimpses of the future often emerge at the Game Developers Conference. It’s where indie games generate a buzz or the kernel of a big idea is planted. This year, artificial intelligence took center stage as Nvidia showed off jaw-dropping capabilities of its chipsets and software companies such as Convai and Ubisoft revealed intriguing gameplay opportunities.

AI has been the source of hype and fear over the past year. It’s been at the center of labor conflict in Hollywood while in the tech industry companies see it as a way to improve efficiency. In the primordial tech ooze of video games, AI is set up to have a transformative impact on one part of the industry.