Character.AI’s new Books mode turns reading into roleplay
TL;DR
Mired in controversy and legal woes over concerns about its chatbots' interactions with users, particularly teens, Character. AI seems to be playing it safer with a new "Books" mode. The new format lets users step inside familiar worlds for a more structured roleplaying experience, one the company hopes will broaden perceptions of what AI roleplay can be beyond romancing minors, encouraging violence, and promoting self-harm. In a blog post, Character.
Nauti's Take
Books mode is a smart pivot — structured, literature-based roleplay is harder to misuse and shows Character. AI is responding to real pressure.
Whether it's enough to restore trust is the open question: the platform's core safety problems aren't solved by a curated classic-fiction feature. Parents and educators get a more defensible use case; for everyone else, Character.
AI still has to prove its guardrails hold.
Summary
Mired in controversy and legal woes over concerns about its chatbots' interactions with users, particularly teens, Character. AI seems to be playing it safer with a new "Books" mode.
The new format lets users step inside familiar worlds for a more structured roleplaying experience, one the company hopes will broaden perceptions of what AI roleplay can be beyond romancing minors, encouraging violence, and promoting self-harm. In a blog post, Character.
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