Unity demos AI-driven cyberpunk game showing why machines aren’t about to replace game designers [Video]

In context: Convai Technologies is a startup geared toward developing conversational AI avatars for the virtual world. The characters are capable of carrying on real-time open-ended conversations and independent actions. They can perform host or guide functions in the metaverse or developers can use them as NPCs in a game – or so the company claims.

Convai (pronounced convey) partnered with Unity on a game called Project Neural Nexus. It’s a cyberpunk-themed first-person shooter with all the dystopian tropes you would expect from the genre game, including a neon-infused locale uncreatively named “Neo City” and clothing that appears to be ripped straight out of Cyberpunk 2077.

Naturally, the game makes heavy use of Convai’s AI NPCs. The entire project appears to be not much more than an interactive advertisement or proof of concept for Convai’s “smart NPC” platform. …