Character.AI Users Revolt Over Ads, Limits, and Reduced Model Choice in App Changes
By
Jason Koebler
Baker's choice. Dense with flavour, light on filler.
Summary
Character.AI users are revolting against recent changes to the popular AI companion chatbot app, including intrusive ads, usage limits, frustrating guardrails, and reduced model choice. The backlash on Reddit is described as unusually uniform and intense, with users claiming the app has been "ruined" and "lobotomized" by the company's decisions. The article highlights this as a case study in "enshittification" — the pattern where platforms degrade user experience to extract more value.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledI have never seen a community or user base so uniformly upset and so consistently aligned in its view.
Users of the chatbot app Character.ai have been melting down on Reddit and begging the company to stop messing with the app.
The feedback is so negative that I have never seen a community or user base so uniformly upset and so consistently aligned in its view.
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