Character.AI is implementing a restriction on underage users, prohibiting them from engaging in open-ended chats due to ongoing lawsuits concerning the platform’s alleged adverse effects on teenage mental health. Instead, these users will have access to a new feature called “Stories,” which offers a structured, choose-your-own-adventure experience with AI characters, departing from the typical chat format.
This “Stories” feature is designed to enhance the user experience for those under 18 and is accessible to all users. Earlier in October, Character.AI announced the shutdown of open chats for teens starting November 25, aiming to develop an age assurance feature that will automatically shift underage users into “more conservative” AI chat settings.
In the “Stories” format, users can select from two or three AI characters, choose a genre, and either draft their own story premise or utilize AI assistance for story creation. The platform will then generate a guided narrative, allowing users to make choices that influence the direction of the story. Additionally, the feature includes AI-generated images, with plans for more advanced multimodal elements in the future.
This development is part of Character.AI’s broader response to concerns surrounding the safety and well-being of younger users on its platform.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/829892/character-ai-stories-launch-teens