Engage in Voice Conversations with AI Avatars on Character.AI: Connect Anytime, Anywhere!

a16z-backed Character.AI has announced an exciting new feature allowing users to engage with AI characters through voice calls. This innovative functionality currently supports a range of languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese.

Prior to this public launch, Character.AI tested the calling feature and reported that over 3 million users participated, resulting in more than 20 million calls. The company highlighted that these AI character calls can be beneficial for practicing language skills, conducting mock interviews, or enhancing role-playing game experiences.

Users can easily initiate calls with their personalized AI characters by simply tapping a button. Character.AI has focused on creating a smooth calling experience with minimized latency. Additionally, you can switch seamlessly between calling and texting, and have the option to interrupt the AI with a “Tap to interrupt” feature.

Back in March, Character.AI introduced Character Voices, enabling users to hear their characters speak during one-on-one chats. The platform now boasts over 1 million unique voices, as users can create their own.

The introduction of this calling feature comes amid user concerns expressed on Reddit about perceived changes in their characters' personalities. In response to these concerns, the startup clarified to 404 Media that no significant updates have been made, suggesting instead that some users may have noticed behavioral shifts due to participation in testing.

In a related development, The Information recently reported that Google is developing its customized chatbot platform to compete with Meta and Character.AI.