Combining live voice recognition, voice synthesis, and an AI large language model, Replica Studios’ Smart NPCs for Unreal allows you to carry out real-time, non-scripted conversations with anyone on your virtual streets. You can even download the demo here and try it yourself (warning: it’s 25 gb!).

These fully simulated AI characters will respond to your live-spoken language in the demo. You can ask where they’re from, whether they believe in aliens, complement their clothes, what car they drive, get food recommendations, tell people you don’t like their haircut, ask for directions to the park (and they’ll give it to you and tell you to feed the pigeons), talk about their insurance plans, what crimes they have committed, start some rumors and conspiracy theories, and anything you can think of. It’s got a few quirky bits, but it’s pretty surreal.

If you think that’s crazy, also check out their AI powered voice actors. The amount of dynamic quality in their voices is pretty amazing. It is almost good enough to replace main character voice actors, but it sure could be used to fill out dozens and dozens of minor roles.

The original channel comes from Jeff Favignano: