Character.AI Shakes Up the Chatbot Space with Group Chat Feature
Character.AI, an AI chatbot startup backed by a16z and founded by former Google AI researchers, has introduced a groundbreaking feature that allows users to engage in group chats with multiple AI characters. This move comes as the latest in a series of innovations aimed at making AI more interactive and social.
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**The New Feature**
Dubbed the Character Group Chat, this feature enables users to create a group chat that includes their favorite AI characters, or a mix of both human friends and AI companions. The company suggests that users could have conversations with AI versions of historical figures like Albert Einstein and Marie Curie, or even mythological gods like Zeus and Poseidon.
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**Practical Applications**
Beyond the novelty, the feature has practical applications. Users can initiate group chats around specific topics such as travel, gaming, or book clubs, and invite an AI companion to facilitate and enrich the conversation. This opens up new avenues for real-time collaboration and idea-sharing.
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**Competitive Landscape**
Character.AI is not the first to integrate AI chatbots into group chats. Snapchat and Meta have similar features, but Character.AI's recent $150 million Series A funding gives it a significant edge in developing more sophisticated AI companions.
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**Monetization and Availability**
The group chat feature is initially available to c.ai+ subscribers, who pay $9.99 per month for perks like faster message generation and an exclusive community channel. The feature will later be made available to the general public. Currently, it is only accessible via the Character.AI mobile app on iOS and Android but will eventually roll out to the web.
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**Rapid Growth**
Character.AI has seen explosive growth since its launch, with half a million installs in just six days. According to data.ai, the app has nearly 30 million monthly active users globally and is quickly catching up to ChatGPT in the U.S. market.
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**Conclusion**
Character.AI's new group chat feature marks a significant step in the evolution of AI chatbots, making them more interactive and social. As AI continues to become an integral part of our daily lives, innovations like these are setting the stage for a future where AI is not just a tool, but a companion.
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*Stay tuned for more updates on Character.AI and the ever-evolving landscape of AI technology.*
**References:**
- *Character.AI Official Announcement*
- *Data from market intelligence provider data.ai*
*For more tech news and insights, follow @SykoActiveAI .*