Meta is bringing AI powered NPCs to the metaverse
Developers working on Meta’s metaverse platform, Horizon Worlds, will soon gain access to new tools for creating AI powered non player characters. The company previewed the upcoming feature, set to arrive very soon, as part of a broader developer update focused on generative AI tools.
Using the Worlds Desktop Editor, developers will be able to craft NPCs capable of holding lifelike conversations with players through voice chat. While Meta has previously tested NPCs within its virtual world, this marks the first time developers will have the ability to create and customize fully embodied characters with distinct personalities.
For users, this advancement means the characters they meet in the metaverse will be far more dynamic. Instead of relying on a set of pre scripted responses, these AI NPCs can engage in more natural dialogue and react to specific player interactions in a contextual manner. In a demonstration, Meta showed how a developer can define a character’s appearance, write a detailed backstory, and provide instructions that govern how it should respond to people it encounters.
This integration of advanced AI chatbots into a 3D virtual space represents a significant step in merging Meta’s two major ambitions in artificial intelligence and the metaverse. The timing of this preview is also notable, as Meta’s annual Connect conference is just a few weeks away. It is highly likely the company will share more details there on how generative AI is fundamentally shaping the future of its virtual worlds.
For those eager to see a glimpse of this technology in action right now, Meta has pointed to two existing Horizon Worlds experiences. Users can visit Bobber Bay Fishing or Profit or Perish to interact with some of the early versions of these AI driven characters.
This move signals a broader industry trend of leveraging large language models to create more immersive and interactive digital experiences, pushing virtual worlds beyond static scripted events and towards truly dynamic social environments.
The article originally appeared on Engadget.
