Krafton, the Korean gaming giant behind PUBG: Battlegrounds, showcased its artificial intelligence technology developed in collaboration with US chip giant Nvidia, on Wednesday at CES 2025 in Las Vegas.

Speaking at the Fontainebleau Hotel, Lee Kang-wook, head of Krafton’s deep learning division, unveiled its innovative model designed to enhance gaming experiences. Known as the "Co-Playable Character," the technology leverages generative AI to create lifelike and dynamic nonplayer characters.

“Built on Nvidia ACE technology, it utilizes an on-device small language model specifically designed for gaming,” Lee explained. “Now the characters can engage in real-time conversations, adapt flexibly to in-game scenarios and even cooperate with players.”

The presentation included a video demonstration of CPC technology in action within PUBG and inZOI. It featured the PUBG Ally, a CPC that engages players in casual conversations and adapts strategies tailored to users’ gameplay. For inZOI, the Smart Zoi was introduced – a CPC with unique personality traits and emotional depth to create highly immersive simulation experiences.

Krafton plans to integrate CPC technology across its game portfolio to elevate user experiences. “We look forward to deepening our partnership with Nvidia, as AI holds immense potential to redefine the gaming landscape,” Lee added.

Meanwhile, attendees at CES 2025 had the opportunity to experience the technology firsthand in a demonstration area, interacting directly with the AI-integrated characters.

By Park Min-ha (en23mp@heraldcorp.com)