AI startup Character AI tests games on the web

character AI, A startup that lets users chat with various AI-powered characters is now testing games on its desktop and mobile web apps to boost engagement on its platform.

The games are available to paid subscribers of Character AI and limited users on the free plan. For this initial release, the company developed two games, Speakeasy and War of Words.

Users who have access to the games can chat with any character in the browser and tap the new controller icon. Users can then play games with existing characters. The app shows a pop-up for users to start a new chat for the game to keep the same previous conversation they had with that character.

In Speakeasy, users need to get the chatbot to say a specific word instead of using five listed words. For example, if you were to call the bot “croissant” instead of using the listed words like pastry, butter, bake, french, and flaky.

In War of Words, users have to duel with characters and an AI referee decides who wins a particular round out of five rounds.

Character AI says it’s the company’s way of making the service more entertaining.

“Our mission as an AI entertainment company is to find ways to do that Character AI A more fun and entertaining experience. We are currently testing a feature that allows gameplay with your favorite characters while maintaining the immersive experience users love,” a spokesperson told TechCrunch.

For users already have their own characters Text-based games like this space adventure game. However, the company is also trying to bring its own games to the platform.

The character AI later went through a personnel change at the top Co-founders Noam Shazir and Daniel de Freitas left for Google. Company has appointed A YouTube executive as Chief Product OfficerAnd Dominic Perella, who had been the company’s general counsel, became interim CEO.

In December, Perella told TechCrunch Character AI positions itself as an entertainment company. The introduction of games is a step that reinforces that image.

“While there are companies in the space focused on connecting people with AI companions, we’re not going for that at Character AI. What we want to do is create a much healthier entertainment platform. And so, as we grow and as we push towards that goal of creating stories on our platform, sharing stories, we need to evolve our security practices to be first class,” he said.

Like the platform YouTube, LinkedInAnd Netflix have used games to drive engagement on their platforms Character AI is likely taking the same route to get users to spend more time on the platform. According to analytics firm Sensor Tower, Character AI users Spend 98 minutes per day on the app.

last year, The company has added new safety tools for teenagersA more prominent label on AI characters informs users that they are not real people after becoming part of the company more than one case. The startup added a time-out notification when a user has been in the app for 60 minutes at a time.

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