Character.AI, a startup backed by the renowned investment fund a16z, has announced a revolutionary new feature that allows users to make phone calls with artificial intelligence characters. Available in several languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese, this functionality promises to transform how people interact with AI bots.
Since the beginning of the testing phase, Character.AI reported that over 3 million users have made more than 20 million calls, demonstrating the popularity and effectiveness of the new tool. The company highlights that these calls with AI characters can be particularly useful for practicing language skills, conducting simulated interviews, or enhancing the experience in RPG games.
The usability of the new feature is simple: users can initiate calls with the touch of a button, allowing direct interaction with AI characters they have created themselves. Character.AI ensures that the call experience is smooth and virtually free of glitches. Additionally, it is easy to switch between calls and text messages, and users can interrupt the AI’s speech using the “Tap to interrupt” option.
In March, Character.AI had already launched Character Voices, a feature that allows users to hear characters in one-on-one conversations. With the ability to create custom voices, the company already boasts a library of over 1 million voices in the app.
The launch of the call feature comes at a time of criticism on Reddit, where users have complained about changes in the personalities of the characters. In response, Character.AI informed 404 Media that it has not made significant changes to the characters, but some users may have noticed differences due to participation in tests.
Meanwhile, The Information revealed that Google is developing its own custom chatbot platform in an attempt to compete with Meta and Character.AI, signaling a promising and competitive future for AI interaction.
