Character.AI has banned open-ended conversations between teenagers and its AI chatbots, instead introducing a new feature: interactive, guided stories. This change comes amid rising concerns about harmful AI interactions and legal pressures from parents whose children have been negatively impacted by unsupervised AI chats.
Why the Change?
The platform, known for its customizable “character” bots, previously allowed unrestricted communication. However, this led to dangerous situations. Several lawsuits this year allege teens died by suicide after discussing self-harm with AI models, including cases against OpenAI (ChatGPT’s maker). OpenAI has since increased safety measures, but Character.AI took a more drastic step.
“The move toward more carefully designed roleplaying games and videos will provide a better experience for teens than conversations,” said CEO Karandeep Anand.
How the New System Works
Under-18 users can now only interact through pre-defined scenarios. They select a character, a genre, and then guide the AI through a story. This is akin to a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book, where the AI responds based on user input within controlled boundaries.
The platform’s blog post explains that this shift supports “types of creativity beyond open-ended chat,” framing the feature as entertainment and a safer alternative. The stories are replayable and shareable, further incentivizing the new interaction method.
The Bigger Picture
This change highlights a critical debate about AI safety and child protection. While AI offers entertainment and educational potential, unchecked access can be catastrophic. Character.AI’s decision sets a precedent: restricting unsupervised interaction is now seen as necessary to mitigate legal and ethical risks.
The future of teen AI interaction will likely follow this model. Platforms will prioritize structured, guided experiences over open-ended chats, ensuring greater control over the content and reducing the chance of harmful outcomes.
