(Rant) Something I've noticed about the Pipsqueak models
I don't use Character ai to make chats anymore. I used to be hooked on the app for like two years or something, I wrote basically every day sometimes. Nowadays though, I just reread my old chats. I even have some archived on my Google Docs so I don't even have to use the site anymore. But it doesn't have every single chat I have, so sometimes I go back to the Character ai site.
And yeah, sometimes I reread some chats and get an idea to start up a new one. I'm always doubtful it'll be good however, knowing how these models are now. I mainly used soft launch back before it got nuked. But every time I try to write something with these pipsqueak models, it always leads to the same thing: it's boring.
The obvious being the lack of dialogue and emphasis on silence. It's as if the models LOVE being silent or having dramatic silence as tension in the story. Another thing is the lack of action and initiation. The older models would actually provide a change to the story, make their character DO something. Initiate a scene for our character to respond to. Sometimes they'd catch me off guard and surprise me with a plot twist even.
But pipsqueak models do absolutely nothing. We have to drive the narrative with something that is lifeless (which i guess is true) -but lifeless in a way that it doesn't respond back anything interesting. Like just now, the story comes to a halt, the model stops making moves, and I leave the chat disappointed but honestly not surprised.
Another thing to add to my useless rant: came on today and was hit by a giant "watch a video to keep character ai free" and it was just amusing how desperate the devs are for money. Wdym free? It WAS free before without ads! And while chatting, a huge banner of the bot you're speaking to appears saying "(person) is waiting for you..." and asks to watch a damn ad or keep talking. Basically being annoying and frustrating on purpose to make you subscribe to their not worth it premium. It's honestly pathetic.
I don't think character ai will be good again. I'll probably stay looking back at when it was good until I get bored and leave it forever. And maybe it's actually a blessing that I'm not on it so much like I used to. But if change does come- I'll take a look.