SHAPES
This app solves AI psychosis with a group chat
AI has entered the (group) chat.
Shapes is an app designed to integrate AI characters into Discord-style threads. And it’s taking off! The platform came out of stealth with $8M in funding and a massive user base that’s entirely word of mouth.
The app’s founders believe that strategically integrating chatbots into human conversations can combat AI psychosis. (This happens when users end up in an AI echo chamber, leading to unhealthy fixations or delusions.)
It’s more common among younger users, who turn to AI platforms for social interactions. But rather than keep those people isolated in one-on-one chats with bots, Shapes integrates AI characters into a group conversation. This tethers AI to real human context, rather than replacing the human element entirely.
How it works:
AI characters, called ‘Shapes’, are placed in group chats alongside humans
While these bots are clearly labeled, they’re not restricted in their content
Characters can start a conversation without being prompted first
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Shapes launched in 2022 and has grown sixfold since January, getting up to 400,000 monthly users. On average, users spend between 2 to 4 hours on the platform daily. And collectively, they’ve created 3 million characters.
The majority of these Shapes are tied to existing fandoms. So users geek out with their favorite fictional characters... who always text back.
Putting the ‘social’ in parasocial relationships - TL