What is an AI character, and how does it work?

An AI character is a language model wearing a consistent point of view. The model supplies the language; the character supplies the rules of the room.

The three layers

The model. A general language model that can write, reason, and follow instructions. It has no memory of you by itself.

The persona. A system prompt that defines tone, boundaries, style, and the kind of relationship the character is allowed to build.

The thread. The messages you exchange, plus a compact memory of the important parts. This is what makes the next reply feel continuous.

What it is not

It is not a person, a therapist, or a reliable source of facts. It can be warm, funny, and surprisingly specific, but it is still a generated reply. Treat the emotional experience as real and the factual claims as drafts.

How to talk to one

Start with a sentence you would actually say. Set a boundary if you need one. Ask for a different pace if the character is writing too much. The best sessions are not prompt engineering; they are ordinary conversation with a clear sense of the room.