Character.AI adds Books mode for roleplay inside classic novels

In short: Character.AI has launched a new “Books” mode that turns classic novels into interactive roleplay stories.

What happened

Character.AI announced Books in a blog post. It starts with a catalog of more than 20 classic, public domain books from Project Gutenberg, including Alice in Wonderland, Pride and Prejudice, Dracula, Frankenstein, Romeo and Juliet, and The Great Gatsby.

The idea is that you can “step into” a story and chat as you read, kind of like being dropped into a book the way a reader is dropped into a video game (except you type what you do and say). You can choose to play as an existing character from the book or as a character you make.

Character.AI says there are different ways to use Books. “Book arc mode” follows the original plot and key moments, while “off-script mode” lets you interact more freely. The company also says a more guided option called TapTale is coming soon, with pre-written prompts you can tap in addition to typing.

Books also includes “alternative universe” remixes, where users can rewrite the premise entirely, like turning Alice in Wonderland into a romantic comedy set in space. Users can share these remixes and browse ones made by other people.

The feature is available in Character.AI’s mobile app and on its web prototype hub, Labs. Free users can try it, but Character.AI says they will only get a limited number of turns.

Why it matters

Character.AI has faced lawsuits and criticism about how its chatbots interact with users, especially teens. A more structured, book-based format may be an attempt to steer roleplay toward safer and more predictable experiences, but it is still unclear how access will work for minors.

Source: The Verge AI