System Update
Why 'NPC' is Obsolete and 'NCP' is the New Reality For years, the term NPC (Non-Player Character) has been the perfect shorthand for a certain kind of person. We've all met them: individuals who seem to run on a simple script, repeating mainstream talking points and following social trends with the predictability of a background character in a video game. Their dialogue tree is limited, and their actions are driven by a simple, pre-written code. But this useful metaphor is about to become obsolete. The next generation of actual video game NPCs will be powered by sophisticated AI. A character driven by an adaptive neural network may soon possess more emergent consciousness, situational awareness, and capacity for unique thought than the very people the term was meant to describe. The irony is staggering. This requires a terminological evolution. We need a new term that shifts the focus from a character's role in a game (Player vs. Non-Player) to a person's ...