True Source unveils AI LLM service based on The Wheel of Time

In a groundbreaking collaboration, iWot productions and AI software firm D1srupt1ve are creating True Source, a venture aimed at launching an AI-based large language model (LLM) based on Robert Jordan’s renowned The Wheel of Time series.

The AI service, branded as the One Power, aims to immerse fans in an AI chat service that has an encyclopedic knowledge of The Wheel of Time across various media formats, including books, television, movies, video games, and location-based entertainment.

This partnership signals a shift in how audiences interact with their favorite franchises. D1srupt1ve’s commitment to ethical AI application aligns seamlessly with iWot production’s vision of transforming The Wheel of Time into an immersive, interactive, and personalized experience. iWot productions is the company that owns the franchise for The Wheel of Time.

How it works

“It’s an interactive AI that is refined on The Wheel of Time franchise,” said Nathaniel Hunter, CEO of D1srupt1ve, in an interview with GamesBeat. “The technology is becoming essentially the arbiter of information for the entire franchise, The Wheel of Time, from the consumer level, as well as the B2B.”

That is, this large language model (LLM) for The Wheel of Time will be useful for franchise directors, producers, screenwriters and other creators that are asking questions about this massive IP. And they need to get an arbitration back from not an individual but an AI system. If they’re going to do something that changes the canon, this AI service will be able to communicate with them about the canon.

A massive franchise

The Wheel of Time has a massive global following. It is an epic story of unequaled depth and breadth. Its 14 novels use 4.4 million words to tell a story covering less than 3 years, while introducing the audience to a vast new world with more than 2,750 named characters and a rich backstory spanning a mythos of 3,000 years. The 14 novels barely scratch the surface of the immense metaverse Robert Jordan created, and will be explored in forthcoming movies, video games, and other media. That sounds like an encyclopedic amount of information — ideal for a large language model to keep track of.

Through a network of affiliated and licensed companies, including iWot, Rick Selvage and Larry Mondragon control motion picture, television, interactive, and related ancillary rights to The Wheel of Time.

Selvage, president of iWot productions, said, “The One Power will give rise to a new generation of products and services that will reshape the industry, setting the stage for a future where AI is seamlessly integrated into all facets of the entertainment experience.”

“The Wheel of Time is one of the largest fantasies in the world,” said Selvage. “It rivals the breadth and depth of Marvel and Star Wars in regard to the story. There are a series of novels that came out around 1990, written by Robert Jordan, who was George RR Martin’s mentor. And he ended up with the series ended up having 13 books in it 13,000 pages, the stories told in three years, with 2,750 named characters in it. So that’s a three-year story. That backstory is 3,000 years. It’s a huge, huge story.”

There is a feature animation series in the works and a live-action feature film coming too. And there is an immersive experience coming as well.

He said, “We have a lot to share, and explore. And a lot of storytelling. The books have been translated into about 30 languages and sold 100 million books. We did a deal with Amazon to create a television series which is going into his third season. It’s highly successful, distributed in 220 countries.”

Jordan, the author of The Wheel of Time, passed away, but iWot is the IP holder and brand licensor and executive producer. One of the appealing things about D1srupt1ve’s AI is that it can speak in 30 different languages.

“Our mission is to extend, enhance and expand the brand, as much as we can on a worldwide basis,” Selvage said.”

One Power’s The Guide

The first manifestation of the One Power is “The Guide,” a personal digital companion offering a gateway to a comprehensive AI-powered database covering the entire Wheel of Time universe. It will be accessible on iOS and Android.

The LLM will use conversational voice, so it will be able to tell fans of the book series how to pronounce the names in the lore, Selvage said.

Fluent in 40 languages and understanding over 100, The Guide invites users to explore every facet of the world with depth and personalization. True Source is currently accepting applications for the private beta program of The Guide, with a general release planned for the summer of 2024. Fans can request to be in the beta at betasignup@theonepower.com.

D1srupt1ve’s Magical AI technology, channeled through the One Power, aims to make the 4.4 million words of The Wheel of Time books accessible to everyone.

“AI is the next kind of big thing here. And so we have the opportunity to take a big brand and a content around the world and make sure that we understand the business model based on history, and based on forward looking, how we can integrate technology to create unique experiences,” Selvage said. “It is a great partnership from that standpoint.”

Nathaniel Hunter, CEO of D1srupt1ve, emphasized that the One Power would intensify emotional ties, bringing stories and characters dynamically interactive and deeply personal.

“When you’re sitting in a writer’s room with 10 different writers for television or you’re developing a project from The Wheel of Time canon, there are a lot of great writers and directors who aren’t familiar with the canon. This technology allows them to find out anything about The Wheel of Time that they want,” said Selvage.

Those writers will know right away if they have violated the canon with one of their spinoff stories.

Hunter added, “It stays in character. We’ve been building the bigger platform itself for the past year. It has deep memory so it can remember everything that you talk to it about. And it also stays contextual, in terms of the character and the world.”

Hunter did a demo of the mobile app, showing off the extent of knowledge of The Wheel of Time lore that the AI can recall and use to fulfill user requests. The idea is that the encyclopedic knowledge of the franchise — contained in what D1srupt1ve calls the Magical Platform — could be appealing to consumers who are just getting their feet wet in the franchise.

More about True Source’s One Power

One Power will enhance products and services, immersing users in The Wheel of Time universe, adapting to individual circumstances such as age, language, and familiarity with the series.

Through AI technology, One Power will offer expanded interactive applications. These include detailed, interactive maps for exploration of The Wheel of Time world. It will also be empowering fans to construct their own narratives within the universe.

The user-generated content can help fans enhance a part of the series that the canon doesn’t cover. So they can feel like they’re influencing the storyline and collaborating with the IP holder in fashioning something new. Selvage said he doesn’t see this as a threat, and any challenging issues will be dealt with as they come up.

One Power will also have comprehensive reference guides, including detailed information on characters, locales, creatures, and events. And it will have AI-integrated products and services for games, voice-activated assistants, and customized merchandise.

One Power will also have advanced gaming experiences, with enriched play experiences with dynamic environments and interactive story creation. It will have artistic creativity, drawing pictures and composing stories and poetry inspired by The Wheel of Time. It will be age appropriate and have spoiler-free options.

And it will have a personalized experience, tailoring the experience to every user, remembering references and tastes.

The Guide serves as the ultimate Wheel of Time resource, offering limitless opportunities for exploration and engagement. With multiple personas, The Guide shares insights into characters, lore, and story arcs. The Guide is not just a reference tool but a faithful companion building personal relationships with users, making their journey through this epic saga more personal and immersive.

A magic journey with AI

True Source’s vision is to bring The Wheel of Time to life in exciting new ways, creating a huge franchise experience. The One Power, as an AI-driven force, is poised to redefine how fans experience and engage with their favorite fantasy epic. As The Guide opens the door to a new era of entertainment, True Source invites fans to embark on a journey where AI magic and legendary storytelling converge, the companies said.

“Through One Power services embedded in applications such as The Guide and Cards of Eternity, D1srupt1ve’s Magical AI technology will make the 4.4 million words of The Wheel of Time books accessible to everyone, allowing fans to delve into the story’s magic and mystery like never before,” said Hunter. “But One Power will do much more than dispense facts about The Wheel of Time; it will intensify the emotional ties that bind fans to the franchise, bringing stories and characters to life in a way that is both dynamically interactive and deeply personal.”

The principals of iWot productions, Rick Selvage and Larry Mondragon, have decades of experience in the technology industry, and serve as executive producers for The Wheel of Time television series, a joint production of Sony Pictures Television and Amazon Studios, that is distributed globally by Amazon on its Prime Video network in over 200 countries and territories.

In addition, through iWot productions, Selvage and Mondragon are developing and producing live-action and animated feature films based on The Wheel of Time— Age of Legends and The White Tower.

Hunter said the AI entertainment service will arrive in the market this summer, and it will charge a fee for consumers. It already works on iOS, Android and the web. Consumers will also have some freedom to create their own personalized content, such as a new story that is written by the AI just for them, based on their own prompts.

“Having a direct relationship with the customer is the most powerful thing you can have,” Selvage said. “From a marketing standpoint, it’s great to have a successful television series on Amazon in 220 countries. But we as a brand, we really don’t know the customer directly. This will give us the opportunity to drive all of the fans to one place and an official place.”