ChatGPT and AI in Sims 5?

Imagine a feature in a Life Sim that allows you to insert yourself in the game as a therapist or just as a friend, and you can communicate with your sims with a microphone headset. You can discuss their recent memories and incidents and have some influence on their wants, aspirations, and opinions of other sims.

You can meet them at a coffee shop and have a discussion while snacking on scones and coffee.
Imagine the surprises you might find about sims that had experiences that you missed while playing other sims.

Life Sims might actually resemble West World in 5-10 years. :)
https://youtu.be/LkbIza269G8

This is a really cool concept. I noticed they were using the word 'agent' -- that came around with SimCity 2013 and Cities Skylines, as they started using cars and people not merely as a visual mode of what the underlying stats said was present on a given street, but as actual units with destinations and tasks. If TS5 is going to be in development for the next few years, it's plausible that something like this could be incorporated!

This video goes into more detail on the research game.
https://youtu.be/NfGcWGaO1E4

Even more detail on how an AI driven game works.
https://youtu.be/Se6KFn1Nni4

The Sims "6" or Life By You "2" might be very interesting.
I'm not sure if this new technology will make it into the upcoming games.

If they go with a Life Simulation game much like The Sims past games, they might find themselves facing one of these AI driven games before TS5 or LBY is complete. It would be an open invitation for a another developer to enter the genre. If I was EA, I would at least be working on a spin-off game to experiment with this new technology, or working on an AI driven version of Rene internally, and try to work it into Rene on some level.

"crocobaura;c-18255715" wrote:
I don't think we need sims to hold very meaningful conversations with one another. I mean they should be able to display those conversation icons in a way that makes sense, based on their interests, hobbies, likes, or wherever is going on in their lives, but I don't think it needs to go deeper that that. It would be nice though if they managed to make sims behave in a meaningful way, like if they dislike dancing then they shouldn't start dancing on their own because there is music on the lot.

I agree with you. I don't think anyone really wants smarter AI for characters like The Sims, not really. I will post a few examples. Smarter 'Sims' would mean players have very little control over their characters. And since I have played this series for more than twenty years, I have seen the complaints in all the iterations when AI was smarter.

Example one: When a Sim runs out of the house in TS4 to go speak to a total stranger. Whether that is smarter AI or not players were annoyed (me) when this happened often. The Sim knows why it does that, the player doesn't in TS4.

In TS2, when Sims ran out of the house to go speak to another walkby (lonely) players were annoyed the Sim would break commands to do it, because their social was low, Smarter AI (yeah) but maybe the player wanted the Sim to be very lonely to bring on the Social Bunny.

Good example of a smarter AI, Sim uses the coffee and moves the commands around and drinks coffee first before the other seven commands queued up for the Sim. I only saw this happen once in twenty years and only with a specially coded Sim in TS2. I was amazed that the Sim was smarter than me, and moved the commands around but never saw it again.

Example two: Gossip. Smarter AI would tell other Sims their Sim cheated on partner. Players complain in all the games their Sims can't do a lot of things the player wants them to get away with (in all the series) without another Sim finding out and spilling the beans and or the Sim in the other room being smart enough to know what is happening in the other room. I doubt players will want smarter AI about conversations and gossip systems. And or smarter Sims at all.

Example three: I sincerely doubt we really want smarter AI because smarter AI would have fewer Sims without the same interests and or wants, fears, needs etc. on any community lot if the game is going to decide Jack and Jane are at work, sorry, you can't call them to go to lunch since they don't get a lunch hour today. This was a complaint when TS4 was first released, (2014) players were upset the Sims at work couldn't be invited over, and or seen on a community lot since they were at work. It was one of the earlier patches to allow it.

In TS3 players were upset because Sims were at work or school, too. But griped a lot about just the opposite in TS2. Carl shows up in work clothes at a community lot at 9:00 A.M. when we knew he was at work. But we just called him at home and the game said he was working.

Example Three: Players didn't like the 'special hobby lots' were practically empty in TS2. Supposedly filled with Sims with the same interests and hobby interests. Which only lead to a handful or less showing up. It was boring to be honest to go to hobby lots.

Example Four: Players won't like Sims not being able to flip on a dime and like one Sim over the other. Smarter AI would mean Mary isn't going to like Sally and or Paul and or Jerome or anybody if they don't have the same interests and or needs and or wants or interests. I've watched for twenty years now how players want to control all that, but if smarter AI thinks it knows better then none of that will be possible, either. And the player will be complaining they have no control. lol

I can list fifty dozen other examples of how smarter AI will not be liked by those who don't like surprises in their games, want to control every detail and or stop Sims from doing things that annoy them (there are ten thousand threads in 20 years about that) and outside of their control. They are going to want ten dozen toggles. ROFLOL

"Cinebar;c-18263246" wrote:

"crocobaura;c-18255715" wrote:
I don't think we need sims to hold very meaningful conversations with one another. I mean they should be able to display those conversation icons in a way that makes sense, based on their interests, hobbies, likes, or wherever is going on in their lives, but I don't think it needs to go deeper that that. It would be nice though if they managed to make sims behave in a meaningful way, like if they dislike dancing then they shouldn't start dancing on their own because there is music on the lot.

I agree with you. I don't think anyone really wants smarter AI for characters like The Sims, not really. I will post a few examples. Smarter 'Sims' would mean players have very little control over their characters. And since I have played this series for more than twenty years, I have seen the complaints in all the iterations when AI was smarter.

Example one: When a Sim runs out of the house in TS4 to go speak to a total stranger. Whether that is smarter AI or not players were annoyed (me) when this happened often. The Sim knows why it does that, the player doesn't in TS4.

In TS2, when Sims ran out of the house to go speak to another walkby (lonely) players were annoyed the Sim would break commands to do it, because their social was low, Smarter AI (yeah) but maybe the player wanted the Sim to be very lonely to bring on the Social Bunny.

Good example of a smarter AI, Sim uses the coffee and moves the commands around and drinks coffee first before the other seven commands queued up for the Sim. I only saw this happen once in twenty years and only with a specially coded Sim in TS2. I was amazed that the Sim was smarter than me, and moved the commands around but never saw it again.

Example two: Gossip. Smarter AI would tell other Sims their Sim cheated on partner. Players complain in all the games their Sims can't do a lot of things the player wants them to get away with (in all the series) without another Sim finding out and spilling the beans and or the Sim in the other room being smart enough to know what is happening in the other room. I doubt players will want smarter AI about conversations and gossip systems. And or smarter Sims at all.

Example three: I sincerely doubt we really want smarter AI because smarter AI would have fewer Sims without the same interests and or wants, fears, needs etc. on any community lot if the game is going to decide Jack and Jane are at work, sorry, you can't call them to go to lunch since they don't get a lunch hour today. This was a complaint when TS4 was first released, (2014) players were upset the Sims at work couldn't be invited over, and or seen on a community lot since they were at work. It was one of the earlier patches to allow it.

In TS3 players were upset because Sims were at work or school, too. But griped a lot about just the opposite in TS2. Carl shows up in work clothes at a community lot at 9:00 A.M. when we knew he was at work. But we just called him at home and the game said he was working.

Example Three: Players didn't like the 'special hobby lots' were practically empty in TS2. Supposedly filled with Sims with the same interests and hobby interests. Which only lead to a handful or less showing up. It was boring to be honest to go to hobby lots.

Example Four: Players won't like Sims not being able to flip on a dime and like one Sim over the other. Smarter AI would mean Mary isn't going to like Sally and or Paul and or Jerome or anybody if they don't have the same interests and or needs and or wants or interests. I've watched for twenty years now how players want to control all that, but if smarter AI thinks it knows better then none of that will be possible, either. And the player will be complaining they have no control. lol

I can list fifty dozen other examples of how smarter AI will not be liked by those who don't like surprises in their games, want to control every detail and or stop Sims from doing things that annoy them (there are ten thousand threads in 20 years about that) and outside of their control. They are going to want ten dozen toggles. ROFLOL

We didn't have smart AI controlled sims in neither TS2, TS3 or TS4. I wonder if the AI can actually work on context and not just preprogrammed behaviors. This would maybe improve some sims behaviors like washing dishes in the bathroom sink or routing, placement of stuff like don't place dirty dishes on top of the large fireplace with an empty slot at the top. Also a sim, if relative or good friend, would take your call even late at night, or you get to see sims walking in the park during the day because realistically there are elders with grandchildren and portrait artists and school children who skipped school and park maintenance personnel and some food vendors and such instead of presenting us an empty park because everyone is at work. I don't want an accurate account of every sims's movement but there should be more flexibility than just broad rules applied to every sim in the neighbourhood.

at the moment i have my doubts that sims5 project rene will go ai only time will say has more info is given on the sims5 project rene since as more info on the game is given now by the time the game nears realise it might have change a bit as reference posting the very first trailer when sims4 was first annonce in 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQjzyPYovdU&t=2s so as a player as i mention i have my doubts at the moment

I'm not so sure about having AI handling conversations in the sims since the sims is so much more about letting the player feel what they are talking about but I am a bit curious about what AI conversations could do for games in the future.

I saw a youtube clip a couple of weeks ago where someone had implemented an AI to the NPC's in skyrim and instead of choosing in a dialogue tree between what you wanted to ask a npc about you could just write and ask them whatever you wanted and the npc generated a suitable response depending on what they had added about that npc.

Imagine if you could play in a different world like a fantasy rpg and ask and talk with people about whatever you wanted, that could be pretty interesting if it was done well.

But again, I'm not so sure about having that in the sims.

Life By You is going to have written-out conversations, with the ability to mod in more conversation content as desired, and no voices to hear.
If they don't port in ChatGPT to this kind of game, they're missing the boat.

However, I wouldn't want it in Sims. I prefer to hear my sims' voices talking in a language I don't understand, with expressive body language and tone of voice to give me a clue about the conversation. :)

I think if done well it could be a cool way of making npcs/text strings feel more "alive".
I wouldn't want full blown conversations, but the game does already include responses for some sim interactions (ie gossip), so if they incorporated AI into this they could have an infinite variety of responses rather than repeating the same few answers.

Just to experiment I asked ChatGPT to respond to a number of situations as if they were a sim with different traits and here's some responses:

Respond as if you are a character in the Sims 4 welcoming a new person to the town of Willow Creek:
"Sul sul! Welcome to the charming town of Willow Creek! You'll love the serene beauty of our neighborhoods, from the cozy suburbs to the tranquil waterfront. Make yourself at home, explore our parks and local hangouts, and get ready to create unforgettable memories in Willow Creek!"

Respond as if you are a grumpy character in the Sims 4 welcoming a new person to the town of Willow Creek:
"Oh, great. Another newcomer. Welcome to the thrilling town of Willow Creek, I guess. Don't expect much excitement around here; it's mostly just the same old routine. But hey, if you're into monotony and predictable neighbors, you'll fit right in. Enjoy your stay... or whatever."

Respond as if you are a rich and snobby character in the Sims 4 welcoming a new person to the town of Willow Creek:
"Ah, another ordinary soul infiltrating the mediocrity of Willow Creek. Take heed, newcomer, for you have entered a realm far below my elevated social standing. Consider yourself fortunate to witness a glimpse of my opulence, but remember, darling, you'll forever remain a mere observer in this world of refined distinction."

Respond as if you are a childish character in the Sims 4 welcoming a new person to the town of Willow Creek:
"Yay, new friend alert! Welcome to Willow Creek, the coolest town ever! We have awesome parks to play in, swings to swing on, and puddles to jump in! Let's have endless fun together and create epic adventures in this super-duper town. Yippee!"

Respond as if you are a character in the Sims 4 gossiping about another person in the town of Willow Creek:
"Guess what? Word on the street is that has been seen sneaking around town in a disguise, pretending to be a famous celebrity – quite the drama queen, if you ask me!"
"Psst, did you hear? Rumor has it that has been collecting an absurd amount of garden gnomes, turning their lawn into a whimsical gnome paradise!"
"You won't believe it, but was spotted talking to their plants as if they were having a full-blown conversation – a true green-thumb eccentric!"
"Psst, you won't believe it! I overheard that has been secretly perfecting their culinary skills and serving up gourmet meals to unsuspecting neighbors – seems like a deliciously delightful secret to keep!"
"Psst, have you heard? It seems has been caught redecorating their entire house in shades of neon pink and lime green – talk about an eye-catching fashion disaster!"


I think if done well this could really help make traits feel more impactful and give townies more individuality. You could do the same with any trait, so then every sim will respond differently to a prompt depending on their personality.