Shapes, an app that lets humans and AI characters chat together in shared group conversations, has emerged from stealth with $8 million in seed funding. Inspired by Discord, it aims to change how people collaborate and communicate.

The founders believe Shapes can address issues around 'AI psychosis,' where prolonged interactions with AI can cause paranoia or delusions. Instead of one-on-one interactions, Shapes allows for group chats, making it a natural fit for everyday communication.

Users can create their own personalized AI characters called 'Shapes' and set their personalities, leading to three million unique Shapes being created so far. Many are inspired by fandoms, serving as a way for fans to connect with others who share similar interests.

The app recommends group chats based on users' interests when they sign up, making it easier for them to join conversations that might interest them. While some may question the need for adding AI into group chats, Shapes solves issues such as initiating conversations and ensuring responses are always acknowledged.

Shapes is designed for a specific demographic of online users who obsessively connect and share interests online, with the app seeing significant growth due to word-of-mouth. The company plans to use the new funding to accelerate development and user acquisition.