Company
Date Published
Author
-
Word count
539
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Shapes is transforming online communities on Discord by offering interactive, customizable AI friends that can engage like human users, with the recent addition of voice capabilities through a partnership with ElevenLabs. These AI entities, called Shapes, are able to interact in threads, channels, and direct messages, and can adapt their personalities and profiles based on user preferences. The integration of ElevenLabs' text-to-speech technology allows Shapes to send voice messages, enhancing user experience by making interactions feel more personal and engaging. Since implementing the voice feature, Shapes has seen a significant increase in user engagement and paid subscriptions, demonstrating strong demand for this feature. This development positions Shapes as a leader in creating personable AI companions, blurring the lines between AI and human interaction, and opening up potential applications in areas such as roleplaying and educational support.