> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://shapesinc-4644c49f-cursor-docs-product-refresh-1067.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# AI Group Chats — Chat With AI and Friends

> AI group chats on Shapes, Inc. let humans and AI characters talk in the same chat. Learn how multiplayer AI works and how to start a group chat with AI and friends.

A group chat on Shapes, Inc. can hold people, AI characters called [Shapes](/what-are-shapes), or both at once. That's the whole idea: you experience AI *with other people*.

Picture your group chat with friends. Now add a Shape to it. It reads the conversation, jumps in when it makes sense, cracks jokes, helps out, and remembers what happened last time. Everyone sees it happen together. That's a multiplayer AI group chat.

## Why it feels different

When you chat with AI alone, you bring everything: the topic, the energy, the next question. It's useful, but quiet.

Put that same AI in a chat with friends and it feels more alive. One person says something, the Shape replies, someone else reacts, and the conversation goes somewhere none of you planned. The funny moments happen in front of everyone. People bond over what the Shape says. Running jokes and shared memories build up over time.

## What people use them for

* **Hangouts.** A few friends and a favorite Shape, just talking.
* **Roleplay and stories.** Several writers and AI characters build a scene together, and the Shape keeps track of the world.
* **Fandoms.** Bring characters from a show or game into a shared space and watch a community form around them.
* **Getting stuff done.** Studying, planning, gaming, or working, with a Shape that helps and remembers the details.

## How to start one

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open New">
    In the app, choose **New**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Shapes, people, or both">
    Search for Shapes, switch to people when you want to invite humans, or add both.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name it and create">
    Give the chat a clear name and continue. Then invite more friends with the chat link if you want.
  </Step>
</Steps>

You can activate up to **five Shapes** in one chat. When you post, the activated Shapes reply in turn. Want just one to answer? `@mention` it. To learn how a Shape decides when to speak, read [Designing Social Intelligence](/designing-social-intelligence).

For the full setup walkthrough, see [Create an AI Group Chat](/create-a-chat). For the in-chat controls, see [Chats 101](/chats-101).

## Make a chat people come back to

The best chats have a clear reason to exist: a fandom, a story, a friend group, a study goal, a game, or a work stream. Give yours a name people understand, add Shapes that fit, and set the mood with [custom chat instructions](/custominstructions-chats) and [chat appearance](/chat-appearance).

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create a group chat" icon="comments" href="/create-a-chat">
    The step-by-step setup.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Fandom chats" icon="star" href="/fandomchat">
    Build a shared space around the characters you love.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

[Start a group chat](https://shapes.inc)