Gorilla Technologies, the company behind popular iPhone customization app Brass and sticker maker StickerHub, has just launched a new AI chat app called Superchat that allows users to chat with virtual characters powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Superchat is different from the default ChatGPT experience and the dozens of generic AI chat apps now available because of the characters it offers. Users can engage with Superchat’s AI features using virtual characters that include notable historical figures like Shakespeare, Albert Einstein, Cleopatra, or Neil Armstrong. The app also offers characters from public domain works, classic stories, or fairy tales, such as Snow White or Medusa, as well as those representing different professions like gardeners, chefs, or therapists.
The app is structured like a messaging app, allowing users to have multiple conversations with different AI chatbots at the same time. The AI chatbots are powered using OpenAI technologies, specifically GPT-3.5-turbo. The artwork for the characters was created using Midjourney. Some characters are available for free with the app download, while others can be unlocked through a premium subscription. However, the upgrade is quite pricey, given that the experience of chatting with AIs is available for free elsewhere. The cheapest plan costs $1.35 per week if you choose an annual subscription (~$70/year), while the weekly subscription costs an exorbitant $6.99 per week.
According to Gorilla Technologies CEO Guglielmo Faglioni, the goal is to make AI technology accessible to everyone, not just people who know how to write great prompts. The company believes that the app will be a great tool for kids who want to learn more about historical figures by chatting to cool characters like Shakespeare. However, the high price of the weekly subscription may put it out of reach for many children.
The characters do seem to be aware of their own history and will include that in their conversations. Still, their speaking style is more of a generic AI. The characters could use more configuration to sound like the characters they represent. For instance, Dracula does not punctuate conversations with a Bwhahaha, as one might expect. Nonetheless, it is an interesting concept to put a face on an AI and have it interact in the style of their character.
Gorilla Technologies hopes that Superchat will make AI technology more accessible and engaging for a broader range of users. The company notes that Family Sharing is supported, so families with multiple users can all share one subscription. While the high cost of the weekly subscription may limit the app’s appeal, it will be interesting to see if Superchat can attract a wide audience with its unique approach to AI chat.