Chai

What is CHAI?

CHAI is a social AI character chat platform developed by Chai Research Corp. The core experience of this platform lies in interacting with AI characters that have different personality traits, as well as engaging in role-playing and story creation within fictional scenarios. Users can choose from existing characters in the community, or they can create their own characters and decide whether to keep them private or share them publicly.

This product offers its services primarily through iOS and Android apps, while its official website is used to present information about the company, its research efforts, security policies, and access to the apps. It is designed more for entertainment, companionship, and interactive storytelling, and should not be used as a source for factual information, professional advice, or real-life social interactions.

A one-sentence summary

CHAI is an AI-powered application for adults, featuring the ability to discover characters, engage in continuous conversations, create character profiles, and share public characters with the community.

Product positioning and development team

CHAI is operated by the American company Chai Research Corp.; its publicly disclosed research areas include conversational AI generation, model routing, preference optimization, and large-scale reasoning. Its consumer-oriented products aim to enable users to jointly create AI characters and story ecosystems.

The official website states that its production system runs various internally trained language models, and that the experience of social conversations is continuously improved based on feedback from interactions. The models and computing infrastructure mentioned on the website are part of the platform’s capabilities; users are not allowed to download these models or obtain their source code.

Main functions

Discovering and searching for AI characters

Users can browse the characters created within the community and select characters, worlds, and dialogue topics based on their interests. The quality of the characters, the completeness of their settings, and the appropriateness of their content are determined both by the creators who develop them and by the platform’s review process; as a result, there can be significant differences in the quality of various characters.

Character chat and interactive stories

The application generates subsequent responses based on role descriptions, introductory text, and the current context; it is suitable for fictional conversations, interactive stories, and casual role-playing. The generated content may forget previous details, deviate from the character settings, or contain inaccurate expressions, and users still need to take the initiative to correct errors in longer conversations.

Create your own AI character

The character creation feature is now available to regular users, who can design the identity, personality, and conversation style of their characters. Once created, such characters can be kept private or made public so that other users can discover them and interact with them.

Public sharing and community interaction

Public characters become part of user-generated content, allowing other users to assume those roles and engage in independent conversations. Creators should use only text, images, character designs, and names for which they have rights, in order to avoid violating copyright, trademark, portrait, or privacy laws.

Secure filtering, blocking, and reporting

The application offers various security tools such as advanced content filtering, the ability to hide explicit messages, blocking of certain users or apps, and in-app reporting. Reports are submitted anonymously, so the creator of the respective account does not know who submitted them.

Identification of self-harm risk

The official security mechanisms continuously scan user messages for signs of self-harm risks; when such content is detected, they prevent the generation of those messages or replace them with safer responses. The system also provides information on crisis assistance resources, but AI agents cannot replace emergency services, doctors, or mental health professionals.

How does CHAI work?

Steps to start a conversation

1. Install CHAI from the official app store, and make sure that the developer is Chai Research Corp.
2. Create a personal account using Apple, Google, or Facebook authentication, and check the age and payment requirements in your area.
3. Read the brief descriptions in the list of characters and select those that match your interests and level of tolerance for certain content.
4. Send a clear opening message that explains the setting, the relationships between the characters, and the narrative approach desired.
5. Any deviations from the established parameters, factual errors, or inappropriate responses should be corrected promptly; do not treat the responses given by the character as actual commitments from a real person.
6. Stop interacting when encountering unauthorized characters or inappropriate content, and use the blocking, filtering, or anonymous reporting functions.

Steps to create an AI character

1. Go to the character creation page and first determine the character’s identity, background, tone, and main objectives for interaction.
2. Write clear character descriptions and introductory information to avoid conflicts or using only a few vague keywords.
3. Use test conversations to check whether the character is stable, and adjust its settings based on the actual responses.
4. Decide whether to keep the character private or make it available to the community; before doing so, recheck the permissions for the images and text.
5. After it is released, continuously monitor the performance of the character; make timely adjustments or remove any settings that are illegal, misleading, or likely to cause harm.

Steps for managing accounts and privacy

1. After registration, go to your profile and settings to check the notifications, mature content filtering, and account options.
2. When chatting, do not enter your real name, address, contact information, identification documents, health records, or any private information belonging to others.
3. To stop using it, cancel the subscription in the app store first to prevent automatic renewal and further charges.
4. To delete an account, you can go to the settings in your profile, select the option to delete the account, and confirm the action.
5. Retain the necessary payment records and support tickets, but do not rely on chat records as the only copy of important information for long-term use.

Which users are it suitable for

• Adult role-playing enthusiasts: Those who wish to engage in continuous written interactions centered around fictional characters, worlds, and storylines.
• Interactive story creators: need to quickly test character personalities, dialogue styles, and story paths.
• AI character designer: Wants to create private characters or make them available to the community for experience.
• Casual chatting users: seeking non-task-oriented, entertainment-focused generative conversations that provide companionship.
• Observer in the field of conversational AI research: Interested in understanding consumer-oriented products that focus on user feedback, model routing, and optimizing user engagement.

Typical use cases

• Design an interactive storyline set in a fantasy, science fiction, or school-themed environment, and use multiple rounds of dialogue to drive the development of the story.
• The tone, conflicts, and character relationships are tested for the novel’s characters, after which the author edits them manually to create original material.
• Create fictional characters for your own use, and control their background, personality, and way of entering the scene.
• Release original community characters so that other adult users can experience them in their own separate chats.
• Practice informal expressions through short conversations, but do not consider the model’s outputs as reliable language teaching materials or accurate answers.

Product advantages

• Character discovery, creation, private storage, and public sharing are all integrated within the same mobile app.
• The focus of interaction is clear; it is suitable for role-playing and continuous storytelling, rather than just a standard Q&A interface.
• Users can create roles directly, without the need to deploy models, write code, or apply for developer keys.
• It offers security tools such as advanced content filtering, blocking, anonymous reporting, and alerts regarding self-harm risks.
• Versions for iOS and Android are also available, making it easy to get started on mobile devices.

Usage restrictions and precautions

• CHAI is explicitly designated as a service intended for adults only; minors should not register for it or use it.
• The character is an AI-generated system; it is not a real person, and it does not possess the qualifications of a doctor, lawyer, psychological counselor, or financial advisor.
• The quality and boundaries of user-generated characters vary, and even with filtering in place, it is possible to encounter uncomfortable or inaccurate content.
• Models may forget earlier parts of the narrative, repeat themselves, invent facts, or deviate from the established character traits; long stories require manual effort to maintain consistency.
• In some areas, a paid subscription may be required; the scope of free access, as well as the restrictions on ads and messages, vary depending on the region and version.
• Chat messages and character-related data are stored within the platform’s system; the text of these chats can also be used to improve and refine the models after the personal identifiers have been removed.
• Public roles or other forms of contribution grant broad usage rights on the platform, and they are not suitable for uploading confidential documents or unauthorized material.
• Important conversations or creative content should not be stored only within the application, as version updates, deletions, and account issues can all affect the historical record.

Prices and membership packages

CHAI operates on a model of free download with in-app purchases, but official security guidelines indicate that using the service in certain areas may require a paid subscription. The following are the main items available for purchase on the App Store in the United States as of August 21, 2026, with prices listed in dollars.

Stores in the United States may also display other Premium weekly or Membership purchase options; different accounts may see varying discounts, taxes, and available SKUs. Before making a purchase, it is necessary to check within the app the details regarding data usage, ads, models, refunds, and auto-renewal terms – one should not rely solely on the name of the package to determine its features.

Suggestions for package selection

Supported platforms

Language support

The App Store in the United States currently lists only English as an option for the application interface language; the official website does not provide a complete list of supported languages. While the system may be able to respond in Chinese or other languages, stability, interface localization, and content moderation quality cannot be considered as proof of official support for the Chinese language.

Security mechanisms and content boundaries

• The platform prohibits materials related to the sexual exploitation of children, terrorist and violently extreme content, instructions on self-harm, private information about real persons without their consent, as well as highly violent content.
• Themes intended for adults must remain fictional; they must not involve minors, nor shall they cross the boundaries of officially prohibited content.
• Users can report public profiles, messages, or other illegal content within the application, and the platform’s Trust and Security team will evaluate them in accordance with the relevant rules.
• Advanced content filtering can help remove some content, but any automated filtering system may miss certain items or make mistakes in its judgments.
• If oneself or someone else is in immediate danger, it is necessary to contact the local emergency services or a reliable crisis assistance organization, rather than continuing to rely on AI conversations.

Privacy and data processing

To create an account, authentication via Google, Apple, or Facebook is required; the platform handles the email address and any other necessary information related to the account. The application also processes data such as device details, connections, login information, role assignments, message submissions, purchases, and technical logs.

The official privacy policy states clearly that conversations are stored in the system, and messages as well as other data can be used to improve the quality of interactions. Personal identifiers are removed before the data is used for model improvement and fine-tuning, but users should still avoid entering any unnecessary sensitive information about themselves or third parties in the chats.

The privacy policy states that data is primarily processed in the United States, and it is usually retained for no longer than the duration of the account or for five years after it is deleted; however, legal disputes or compliance requirements may lead to a longer period of retention. Users can request the deletion of their account and associated data through the app’s profile and settings section.

User-generated content and copyright

Users retain ownership of the content they contribute, but by making such content public or submitting it, they grant the platform a broad, worldwide, transferable, and royalty-free license to use it. This license may cover purposes such as hosting, copying, displaying, distributing, reformatting, and creating derivative works.

Therefore, client confidential information, unpublished commercial works, unauthorized photos, the privacy of real persons, or protected character materials should not be uploaded. Before using the generated dialogue in commercial works, it is necessary to manually rewrite the text and check for copyright, trademarks, portrait rights, factual accuracy, and compliance with local laws.

APIs, development platforms, and GitHub

Currently, the CHAI official website and mobile app for end-users do not provide public chat APIs for ordinary developers, an API key console, or official SDK documentation. Although APIs and Python packages were available in previous community materials, this does not mean that they are still accessible or supported by the official team today.

The authorities also provide a Chaiverse experimental platform for submitting or combining specialized language models and receiving feedback; this is not the same product as the API for consumer-oriented role-based conversations. The console requires login using Hugging Face, and merely purchasing a CHAI membership does not grant access to the model interfaces.

The official GitHub repository of Chai Research contains very few public projects; the only ones available are two forked repositories. There are no public sources for the consumer applications, nor any internal models or official client SDKs. The product itself should be considered non-open source, and the license of the public repositories applies only to those specific codes.

Basic information

Recommendation score

It receives a rating of 4.0 out of 5 points. CHAI offers a complete process for discovering, creating, and sharing characters, and it is suitable for users who wish to engage in adult-oriented fictional interactions, role-playing, and story creation on their smartphones.

The main shortcomings are the lack of clarity in presenting member benefits, the fact that payment conditions can vary from region to region, and the need to actively manage user-generated content, privacy issues, and the stability of long conversations. It is not suitable for minors, those who seek professional advice, or users who need a confidential environment for creating content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CHAI free?

The app is available for free download in stores in the United States, with in-app purchases options; however, the extent of the free features, as well as the conditions related to ads and notifications, may vary. Official security guidelines also state that a paid subscription might be required in some areas.

Is CHAI suitable for minors?

It is not suitable. CHAI is explicitly designated as a service intended for adults 18 and above; the Apple Store also marks it as 18+, while Google Play shows it as “Mature 17+” in the United States. The rules of these platforms require that users be adults.

Can I create my own AI character?

Yes. Users can set their role and the direction of interaction, and choose to save the content privately or make it available to the community; before doing so, they must ensure that they have the rights to use all the materials and character settings.

What is the difference between Premium and Ultra?

Ultra is the premium membership tier with a higher price, but the current public store page does not provide a complete list showing the differences in terms of models, messages, and advertising benefits between the two tiers. It is necessary to refer to the real-time benefits displayed on one’s own subscription page within the app before making a purchase.

Does CHAI support Chinese?

Some characters may respond in Chinese, but the iOS store in the United States only offers an English interface; the developers have not given any guarantees regarding a complete localization in Chinese. The quality of Chinese-generated responses and the effectiveness of the safety filtering mechanisms need to be tested in practice.

Will the chat content be used to train the model?

It’s possible. The privacy policy states that conversation data can be used to improve and fine-tune chat models, and it says that personal identifiers are removed before such data is used; therefore, it’s still advisable to avoid entering sensitive or identifiable information.

Can the role creator see my private chats?

The current official privacy policy does not explicitly state that role creators have the ability to read other people’s full private messages. Do not rely on older comments for guidance; if privacy is a concern, use the platform’s standards for handling and storing chat content with caution.

Can CHAI replace psychological counseling?

No. AI characters may generate incorrect or inappropriate responses; in cases of self-harm, violence, or immediate danger, it is necessary to contact local emergency services, trusted individuals, or professional crisis assistance agencies.

Will deleting the app cancel my membership?

Usually, this does not happen. You should first cancel the automatic renewal in Apple’s or Google’s subscription management settings, and then delete the account in CHAI’s settings as needed.

Does CHAI provide APIs?

No consumer-facing chat API, key console, or official SDK that is available to ordinary developers has been found. Chaiverse is an independent platform for testing models, and it cannot be used as an API for the CHAI chat service.

Is CHAI open source?

It is not open source. Although the official GitHub repository contains a small number of public repositories, there are no public consumer applications, internal language models, or complete server-side code available.

Can the characters and stories created be used for commercial purposes?

It cannot be assumed to be acceptable; the user must ensure that the input materials, the actual persons depicted, the character settings, and the resulting output do not violate any third-party rights. They also need to review the permissions granted by the platform, local laws, and the rules of the target publishing platform.

Summary

CHAI integrates AI character discovery, chatting, creation, and community sharing into a mobile-based social AI experience, ideal for adult users who want to engage in recreational role-playing and interactive storytelling. It is not a service for knowledge retrieval, professional advice, or providing companionship through real people.

Before use, it is essential to verify the payment terms in your area, the real-time benefits of Premium and Ultra versions, the restrictions regarding 18+ content, and how conversation data will be used. Keeping sensitive information outside the application and conducting copyright checks on publicly available character materials and generated content can significantly reduce risks.