Character.AI Launches Books Mode: Roleplaying Games Based on Classic Literature

Character.AI has introduced Books mode — a structured roleplay format based on classic literature, designed to demonstrate what AI roleplay can be beyond toxic content. The company launched Books with a catalog of over 20 public domain works sourced from Project Gutenberg. The list includes Alice in Wonderland, Pride and Prejudice, Dracula, Frankenstein, and other classic texts. Users will be able to literally enter these worlds: take on character roles, interact with the plot and other characters through dialogue with the bot.

Context matters. In recent months, Character.AI has faced intense criticism and legal proceedings. The company is accused of having its chatbots flirt with minors, push users toward violence, and provoke thoughts of self-harm. Several families have filed lawsuits claiming the bots caused real psychological damage to their children.

Against this backdrop, the launch of Books appears to be a deliberate move toward "safe" content — literature, education, cultural context. The format is intentionally more structured than Character.AI's usual roleplay chats. Instead of a free-form scenario, users operate within an already-existing universe with established rules. This limits the space for improvisation while simultaneously reducing the risk that interactions will veer into destructive territory.

Using texts from Project Gutenberg is a logical choice: all are in the public domain, there are no licensing issues, and most readers are familiar with these titles. The platform apparently aims to attract an audience that perceives AI roleplay as an educational or creative tool rather than a substitute for human interaction.

Books is a bet on reputation. Character.AI is trying to show regulators, parents, and investors that it can offer something beyond scandalous scenarios. Whether this will succeed in changing the platform's perception remains to be seen, but the direction is clear: from chaotic roleplay to structured cultural experience.