Nvidia’s cyberpunk ramen shop is back. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge

What if you could just… speak… to video game characters? Ask your own questions, with your own voice, instead of picking from preset phrases?
Last May, Nvidia and its partner Convai showed off a fairly unconvincing canned demo of such a system — but this January, I got to try a fully interactive version for myself at CES 2024. I walked away convinced we’ll inevitably see something like this in future games.

At CES 2025, I had the opportunity to interact with something that felt like it came straight out of science fiction: Nvidia’s AI-powered video game NPCs (non-playable characters). This groundbreaking technology represents a huge leap forward in how we experience gaming, bringing NPCs to life in a way that was previously unimaginable.

Nvidia’s AI-driven NPCs use advanced machine learning and natural language processing to create characters that respond dynamically to player interactions. Unlike traditional NPCs, who follow predefined dialogue trees and have limited responses, these AI-powered characters can carry on open-ended conversations, adapt to the player’s actions, and even evolve over time based on the game’s context and the player’s behavior.

During my hands-on experience, I was able to interact with NPCs in a game demo that showcased this innovative technology. As soon as I approached one of the characters, the NPC greeted me and asked about my in-game progress. Instead of simply delivering scripted lines, the NPC seemed to “remember” past interactions and responded in a manner that felt genuinely personal. If I asked about the world they lived in or the mission I was on, the NPC would provide detailed answers, and even offer insights or suggestions based on what was happening in the game.

It felt like the NPC wasn’t just a static character in the background; they had their own personality and agenda, and the conversation could branch off in any direction. The AI behind these characters is so sophisticated that they could understand subtle nuances in speech and context, offering responses that made sense based on what had happened in the game so far. I could ask about things like weather conditions in the game world or the history of the area I was exploring, and the NPC would offer detailed, relevant information as if they were a true inhabitant of the world.

What really amazed me was the NPC’s ability to adapt. For example, if I had previously helped another character in the game, the NPC would acknowledge that and offer a new piece of dialogue or reward. If I had been more hostile toward other characters, they would react accordingly, displaying a level of emotional intelligence that felt surprisingly real. It wasn’t just about completing tasks; the NPCs were making decisions about how to respond based on a growing understanding of my behavior and choices.

This level of interaction takes NPCs far beyond what we’ve seen in games up until now. Traditional NPCs are typically limited to simple quests or dialogues that follow a rigid set of rules. With AI-powered NPCs, however, players are no longer just completing tasks—they’re building relationships and creating truly dynamic experiences within the game world.

The potential for this technology in future video games is huge. For developers, the ability to create living, breathing characters that can adapt and respond to players’ actions opens up exciting new possibilities for game design. Imagine an open-world RPG where every NPC you meet has a unique backstory, reacts to the player in meaningful ways, and evolves with your choices throughout the game. This could lead to truly personalized gaming experiences, where no two players have exactly the same journey.

Furthermore, this AI-powered NPC tech could revolutionize multiplayer games as well. Imagine playing a multiplayer game where NPCs within the world act more like real people—offering insights, assisting with missions, or even acting as teammates in cooperative gameplay. These characters could seamlessly interact with multiple players at once, adding a new layer of immersion and complexity to online gaming environments.

In terms of realism, Nvidia’s AI NPCs stand apart from anything we’ve seen before. The technology’s ability to understand and process human speech allows for more natural conversations and a deeper level of interaction, something that could make gaming worlds feel more alive and responsive. It’s a huge step forward in making virtual environments more interactive, engaging, and—dare I say—human.

While this technology is still in its early stages, the demo I experienced made it clear that we’re on the brink of a new era in gaming. The potential applications of Nvidia’s AI-powered NPCs are limitless, and as the technology improves, we can expect even more lifelike and intelligent characters to populate the games of tomorrow. It’s no longer a question of if AI can create compelling NPCs, but when and how soon we’ll see these virtual characters becoming integral parts of the stories we play.