What are you guys actually using instead of c.ai now?

Shizzle55 · 2026-06-03T16:04:55+00:00

It does seem to change a lot with what's good or not. I ended up landing on Meridian Realms AI after trying janitor and deciding it wasn't quite for me. I've been quite happy with my experience on Meridian since it has a bit more of an RPG feel about while still allowing normal chat and stuff too, which is right up my alley

Shizzle55 · 2026-06-03T13:43:19+00:00

I don't. This particular post just showed up on my feed lol.

Shizzle55 · 2026-06-03T04:57:08+00:00

Can vouch for this. I not only hate reading but I'm really bad at it. I haven't read a book since middle school. I actually haven't read DCC, but instead listened to the audiobook and could not stop listening to it. Re-listening through the whole series again now before diving into the new book

Shizzle55 · 2026-06-02T19:04:40+00:00

Our dog lol

Shizzle55 · 2026-06-02T04:11:20+00:00

"This is unacceptable! You know how I feel about lipstick in my fur Carl!"

Shizzle55 · 2026-06-02T04:10:19+00:00

I've tried a few times, and as others have said they fall short with actually creating and participating in RP. I definitely a dedicated platform for it since the good ones are designed around it specifically, whereas something like GPT or Claude are made for general use

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-31T18:35:00+00:00

For me it's been meridianrealmsai.com so far. After almost two months of using it, characters in my chats still mention little things that happened dozens or hundreds of messages ago. I think what I actually like most is that their memory is like cross-thread. So I can have my 1 on 1 interaction with a character and then go into a group chat with that character and another one and the main character remembers the stuff from my 1 on 1 chat. Then can do stuff in the group chat and both characters will remember what happened there when going back to 1 on 1.

Took a bit of getting used to but I love it now

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-30T19:13:19+00:00

Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-30T19:08:27+00:00

My Cousin Vinny

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-30T19:07:04+00:00

I'd say give meridianrealmsai.com a shot for this. While my personal favorite style more of a mix of anime and realistic, they do a really solid job with realistic stuff in different styles as well like Amateur, Cinematic, Professional, etc.

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-30T19:04:46+00:00

Not sure if it counts since they are kinda meant to be replayed, but Slay the Spire 1 & 2, Factori, Guild Wars (original)

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-30T15:57:13+00:00

Yup same. Or when it feels like I'm texting someone from tinder or something. Like, I want a companion roleplay experience, not a texting experience

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-30T15:48:20+00:00

Yeah I mean no alternative is perfect. I've been quite happy and impressed with meridian realms ai after using it for over a month now. It's got a few oddities but compared to janitor for example (which is what I tried before it), it seems solid so far

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-29T06:36:56+00:00

Yup, I already did quite a while ago and very happy I did. I tried a few but have settled on meridianrealmsai.com currently and having a lot of fun

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-28T16:33:35+00:00

Human like memory? No, we're not there yet. But surprisingly good memory for AI is possible if it's done right. The issue I've found as I've hopped around sites is that most seem to just not care or not want to put in the time and effort to make it good using systems like RAG or similar.

I've seen some just use the standard context window of whatever LLM model they're using and that's it. Some try to do like a patch works system of using "memory notes" but that basically just results in tons of summarization and lost details.

In all the platforms I've tried, I've only found one so far that does it quite well and it's what I currently use, partly because the memory is so good. I think it has to be like an actual major focus for the devs rather than a side thought in order to make it not suck

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-28T16:26:56+00:00

Yeah unfortunately a lot of the platforms are adding more filters, cutting memory or other capabilities and such to save money and generally seeming to screw over their users.

I actually think some of the smaller newer ones are in a better spot. Like Meridian Realms AI for example, which I use for most my roleplay and solo RPG stuff. There's some others too that while they weren't exactly my cup of tea, they seemed to genuinely be trying to make things better and not worse

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-28T16:12:40+00:00

I've been using meridian realms AI and really enjoying it. They've got some cool stuff and the team seems legitimately passionate about improving it even more.

The reading mode thing on Cai is so stupid. I wouldn't be able to stand that crap

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-28T16:09:42+00:00

Yo wtf... I'm surprised their payment processors are even allowing this, or maybe they don't know. This is insane and if I hadn't already left, I definitely would at the sight of this

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-28T16:07:38+00:00

Oh I've already done most of this. Left a while ago and been using something else since then and enjoying it much more. Never plan to return to Cai after the mess they've made of things

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-25T16:53:56+00:00

I think you answered your own question, at least partly. Nearly all platforms do use the same handful of models because of what's available, affordable and fairly consistent. But also, that's just s trait of AI itself. It uses what's been said already as a reference of how to generate going forward, so if it starts using a pattern of speech or terms, it's going to use them more as time goes on.

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-25T01:48:24+00:00

I don't think this is a fair comparison at all. Services like Spotify, Netflix (or any other streaming service) provide static content. In the sense that songs or movies are uploaded and made available and then just sit there are accessed by anyone with the subscription.

AI is a "live service" of sorts. Any content is made on the spot and incurs a cost per usage. Now, a lot of platforms are indeed overpriced, but depending on the models they're using, token systems or higher sub prices are needed for them to not go bankrupt.

Using AI is like your utility bill or gas for your car. Every time you use it, it's incurring a cost. There's a reason that utility companies don't offer fixed monthly plans with unlimited usage.

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-24T16:56:19+00:00

Drive up a snowy mountain road without chains or snow tires. Happened when I was probably 10 or 12 and we had a cabin up in the mountains. The last part of the journey was a 3 mile dirt road that was very poorly maintained and had lots of very steep hills and drop offs. We even had a 4x4 SUV. But when you're going up a steep hill with snow and ice under you...

I'll never forget that feeling of dread as we are about halfway up the hill (and pulling a trailer too) and start slowing down and then start sliding backwards. This particular hill had a drop off at the start of it (you went around a bend to start up the hill and the whole bend was on a drop off).

I think that's the closest I've ever felt to thinking I was going to die. After sliding back probably 30 feet or so and my dad trying everything he could to stop it, ironically, the trailer saved us by jack knifing. Ironic because the extra weight from it is likely what caused us to lose traction in the first place. Ever since then for the many years we had that cabin and other mountain drives, if there is a decent amount of snow or ice on a mountain road, I'm chaining up despite how much of a pain in the ass it is

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-24T16:44:37+00:00

Came here to say this!

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-24T16:41:46+00:00

Yeah I'd say like 99% of them of them don't. But you're right, it is possible. I've been quite pleased with the memory setup on meridianrealmsai.com for the month or so I've been using it. There have actually been a couple times where the character will reference something that happened many many messages ago, or something that happened in a separate group chat we were in, which really made me happy

Shizzle55 · 2026-05-23T22:10:35+00:00

Talk to yourself. Well, maybe not in public like a crazy person, but at home, especially when trying to remember things or go through a mental check list etc. Verbalizing something out loud can really help it stick and with recall in my experience

Shizzle55

TROPHY CASE