Getting Started

If spoonfeeding doesn't work, use a bigger spoon.

What is this?
This wiki is a resource made and used by /aids/ — AI Dynamic Storytelling General, a community centered around the idea of language models, or AI Dynamic Storytellers. The use of 'AI' is a bit of a misnomer—they're more like very intelligent recursive probability charts. Regardless, their main purpose is to generate text as an output based on input information. This can be used to create all kinds of content; literature, academic papers, blogs, and other things if you're creative; with respect to /aids/, most are interested in literature and erotica. This guide is written to provide a more condensed introduction or refresher for new and returning users, although for further reading you can read the OP, FAQ, or other resources on the wiki.

What storyteller should I use?
It depends what you're looking for, since there's a pretty wide selection of storytellers. To start with, you should try some of the trials offered and see if you're actually interested in this. Several services offer free trials, such as NovelAI, Holo AI, or AI Dungeon. Try them all out, since each is constructed towards different uses for the models. Briefly recapping some of the most popular services: Realistically, there's no "best" option available, since everyone has different expectations and requirements. Test the trials and see which interests you.
 * AI Dungeon is historically one of the most important storytellers available, and probably the most mainstream outside of /aids/. Primarily focused on casual play and creating a Tabletop RPG-esque story. Subscribers have access to larger language models, but access to the basic models is free. Plagued by mismanagement and a shaky history of trust and privacy with /aids/.
 * NovelAI is currently the most popular service on /aids/. Marketed more as a writing tool than a game, NovelAI relies on smaller open-sourced models, but offers much more control and customization over generations itself. Offers a free trial, with several tiers of subscription.
 * Holo AI is another service, offering similar models and settings to NovelAI. Cheaper subscription tiers than NovelAI, but charges per character. Slight controversial history in the thread.
 * KoboldAI is a free client used to manage your own model, which can be run either locally on your hardware or on Google's servers by the Google Colab service. Requires some additional reading and set-up, but is free and, if hosted locally, offers the most privacy.

Starting with AI Generation
Once you've opened a service, you'll usually want to start providing a prompt, or starting text, for the AI to begin with. Most services will provide a selection of prompts to begin with yourself, although you can also use your own, taken from a repository like the club or by writing your own. Request a generation and the AI will begin printing text to continue the story. Congratulations, you're a writer now! You'll usually be able to retry, undo, and edit outputs if you want to change them, or you can put in your own inputs. Adjust the text if you want to steer the story in a certain way, or let it go on its own.