Character.AI

Character.AI is an app for chatting with AI characters. Users can talk to characters made by other users or create their own, with a name, a personality and a greeting. Former Google researchers Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas started the company, and the beta opened to the public in September 2022.

Characters range from figures in books and games to language tutors and practice interview partners. Users can chat by text or by voice, and group chats let several characters talk together. The service runs on the company's own models. It is available on the web and on iOS and Android.

The app is free to use. A paid plan called c.ai+ adds faster replies and extra features. In 2024 Google signed a licensing deal with the company and both founders returned to Google. The company has added safety features for teenage users, and in 2025 it moved to stop users under 18 from open ended chats with characters.