Character AI begins testing ads to make up for "significant costs," but not everyone's happy about it

Character.AI has quietly rolled out test ads this week as it wrestles with what it calls “significant costs” to keep its servers humming. The move comes alongside a new slow-mode feature for free users during peak hours, but it’s the ads that have stirred the biggest fuss.

In a recent announcement on Reddit, a moderator from the Character.AI team explained that running the app’s advanced language models isn’t cheap. They thanked c.ai+ subscribers for helping shoulder the load and said that ad testing would allow the service to stay free for everyone else. The company emphasized that ads won’t be tied to the content of users’ chats and that feedback would shape the final design.

Still, many in the community are far from thrilled. Some worry that the ads could interrupt conversations or turn up too often. Platino-999, one of the top commenters, begged the team to keep ads unobtrusive. “Please don’t put intrusive ads that block us for few seconds and have 3 damn X to press and even a fourth fake one…” they wrote, echoing a common fear of hidden close buttons or autoplay videos.

Others suggested more measured approaches. Recent_Campaign_6191 urged the company to place ads between chats or on the home screen only. “PLEASE don’t make it to where the ads pop up a lot or mid-chat,” they pleaded. “If people don’t like the ads then LISTEN to them if u want people to stay on the platform.”

Similarly, there are multiple other threads discussing the problem. One frustrated user simply highlighted the announcement with the title, “WHAT THE F**K.” This thread garnered over 750 upvotes and over a hundred comments. As expected, many others in the comments shared the same opinion.

Despite the backlash, some users understand the necessity. On a related thread titled “Unpopular Opinion: c.ai Still Beats the Alternatives,” one user noted that other free AI chat apps bombard users with video ads after every swipe. They argued that, as long as Character.AI keeps things tasteful, a banner here and there could be a fair trade for cost relief.

Character.AI’s slow mode has also drawn complaints. When servers hit capacity, free users may see responses take longer. Subscribers to c.ai+ skip the wait, giving paid users a smoother experience. Yet many feel the hidden waits paired with upcoming ads could sour the core attraction of instant, ad-free AI chat.

For now, the ad tests are limited to a small group. The company says it will refine its approach based on user reactions before any wider rollout. But with dozens of threads already buzzing about ad placement, auto-play videos and chat interruptions, it’s clear that balancing cost recovery with a seamless experience won’t be easy. Many fans fear that a misstep could drive them straight into the arms of rival services that promise fewer interruptions—ads or otherwise.