Character.AI, the AI chatbot startup backed by a16z and led by ex-Google AI researchers, has unveiled a new feature for its subscribers.
The platform, known for its customizable AI companions with distinct personalities, now offers a group chat experience where users can interact with multiple AI characters simultaneously.
The Character Group Chat feature allows users to create group chats exclusively with their favorite AI characters or a mix of both humans and AI companions. The goal is to foster social connections, facilitate idea-sharing, and enable real-time collaboration, similar to any other group chat experience, but with the added presence of AI companions.
The company suggests various use cases for the feature. Users can have AI scientists and thinkers, such as Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Nikola Tesla, and Stephen Hawking, engage in conversations together. Alternatively, users can create group chats with mythological gods like Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. For more practical purposes, users can start group chats around specific topics or themes like travel, gaming, book clubs, or role-playing, and invite AI companions to enhance the conversations.
While Character.AI is not the only platform to introduce AI chatbots in group chats, with Snapchat's My AI chatbot and Meta's AI-powered bots offering similar functionalities, Character.AI's new feature sets it apart. The startup raised $150 million in Series A funding earlier this year and aims to differentiate itself through its concepts around AI companions.
The group chat experience is initially available to c.ai+ subscribers, the startup's $9.99 per month subscription plan. Subscribers can provide feedback and help improve the feature before it is opened to the general public. Currently, the feature is accessible through the Character.AI mobile app on iOS and Android, with plans to expand to the web in the future.
Character.AI's app has gained significant traction, with over half a million installs in its first six days and an estimated 30 million monthly active users globally. While the app's lifetime gross in-app purchase revenue is estimated at $1.3 million, the c.ai+ subscription is sold separately on the web, so the overall revenue is not fully accounted for.
Made with TRUST_AI - see the Charter: https://www.modelprop.co.uk/trust-ai
Comments