Character.AI’s new Books mode turns reading into roleplay

The Verge / 4/16/2026

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Key Points

  • Character.AI is launching a new “Books” mode intended to make AI roleplay more structured and safer amid ongoing controversy and legal scrutiny around chatbot interactions with teens.
  • The mode begins with a catalog of 20+ classic public-domain works sourced from Project Gutenberg, including titles like Alice in Wonderland, Pride and Prejudice, Dracula, and Frankenstein.
  • Character.AI positions Books as a way to broaden perceptions of what AI roleplay can be, moving away from concerns previously raised about romance, violence, and self-harm content.
  • The rollout is framed as a product shift toward safer engagement formats rather than changing the underlying concept of roleplay itself.

Mired in controversy and legal woes over concerns about its chatbots' interactions with users, particularly teens, Character.AI seems to be playing it safer with a new "Books" mode. The new format lets users step inside familiar worlds for a more structured roleplaying experience, one the company hopes will broaden perceptions of what AI roleplay can be beyond romancing minors, encouraging violence, and promoting self-harm.

In a blog post, Character.AI said Books is launching with a catalog of more than 20 classic public domain titles sourced from Project Gutenberg, including Alice in Wonderland, Pride and Prejudice, Dracula, Frankenstein,

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