Character.AI, the AI chatbot startup backed by a16z and founded by former Google AI researchers, has launched an exciting new feature for its subscribers. With its platform focused on customizable AI companions that boast unique personalities, Character.AI now introduces a group chat experience that allows users to interact with multiple AI characters alongside their friends.
The new feature, called Character Group Chat, empowers users to create group chats populated solely by their favorite AI characters or to combine them with human friends. This innovative approach provides users the opportunity to forge social connections, brainstorm ideas, and collaborate in real time, just as they would in any traditional group chat—now enhanced with AI companions.
Character.AI encourages users to experiment with diverse group chat scenarios. For example, you can invite AI incarnations of renowned scientists like Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Nikola Tesla, and Stephen Hawking to engage in stimulating discussions or create a goofier chat environment with mythological figures such as Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon.
For practical applications, consider hosting a group chat around interests such as travel, gaming, book clubs, or role-playing, and enrich the conversation by including an AI companion to facilitate dialogue and enhance interaction.
It’s worth noting that the concept of integrating AI chatbots into group chats isn’t exclusive to Character.AI. For instance, Snapchat’s My AI chatbot can be added to group chats using the @myai command. Meanwhile, Meta has introduced a suite of AI-powered bots across its platforms—including WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram DMs—featuring personality-driven bots based on celebrities like MrBeast, Paris Hilton, Tom Brady, and Snoop Dogg. This development, unveiled at Meta’s Connect conference in late September, could pose competition for Character.AI, particularly after the startup secured $150 million in Series A funding earlier this year for its innovative AI companion concepts.
However, the Character Group Chat feature will initially be available exclusively to c.ai+ subscribers. This subscription plan, priced at $9.99 per month, provides several benefits: an expedited experience by skipping waiting rooms, faster message generation, and access to a dedicated community channel for feedback and support. The company plans to eventually roll out this feature to the broader public.
Currently, Character Group Chat is available only through the Character.AI mobile app on iOS and Android, with plans to expand to the web in the future.
The app has already garnered significant attention, amassing over half a million installs within its first six days and is reportedly closing in on ChatGPT's user base in the U.S. Third-party data from market intelligence provider data.ai suggests the app boasts nearly 30 million monthly active users globally, with approximately 7 million in the U.S. Additionally, its lifetime gross in-app purchase revenue is estimated at $1.3 million, although c.ai+ is sold on the web, indicating this figure may not reflect its overall revenue comprehensively.
Ranking
