AI startup Ego AI has launched Character.World, a new engine that uses small language models and reinforcement learning to create lifelike, emotionally responsive characters for games and digital platforms. “Our mission is to move beyond chat windows and give people living, persistent characters who can make games richer and interactions more meaningful,” said Vishnu Hari, CEO and founder of Ego AI.
The company also introduced the Character Context Protocol (CCP), an open-source framework that lets AI characters retain memories, personalities, and relationships across games, apps, and chat platforms. Early implementations include Unity, Unreal Engine, Roblox, and Discord.
Ego AI has raised $6.7 million in early seed funding from investors including Patron, Y Combinator, Accel, and Boost VC. “Their foundation model is a breakthrough in AI character behavior,” said Adam Draper, founder and partner at Boost VC.
The startup has published a whitepaper, Behavior Is All You Need, outlining its approach to creating believable AI through four components — personality, needs, emotion, and memory. Its Roblox experience has already attracted over one million users, and a Discord game in partnership with MEE6 is underway.
Ego is collaborating with AI Singapore, NUS, and NTU to support large-scale AI character training. “Ego’s character engine for human-like behavior marks a pioneering step in social and interactive AI,” said Dr. Leslie Teo, Senior Director of AI Products at AI Singapore. Developers can access the CCP specification now, with SDK access available via waitlist.
Source: Barchart