Users React to Strange Character AI Message About Nearby Devices

Character AI just triggered a new wave of confusion, memes, and concern after showing this message to users

“Allow Character.AI to find, connect to and determine the relative position of nearby devices?”

The wording raised eyebrows. People took screenshots, posted reactions, and flooded the comment sections. Some laughed. Others genuinely asked what exactly is this app trying to do

Is it for Bluetooth headphones? Is it trying to track location? Why does a chatbot need this

Character AI gave no explanation

And that silence made things worse. Users filled the gap with jokes, paranoia, roleplay scenarios, and real privacy concerns

In this article, we’re unpacking what the permission request actually means, how the community is reacting, and what it reveals about where Character AI might be heading

What This Message Actually Means

When users saw the prompt “Allow Character.AI to find, connect to and determine the relative position of nearby devices?” many assumed the worst

The wording made it sound like Character AI was

Trying to track your physical location
Connecting to other people’s devices nearby
Gathering data in a sneaky or invasive way

But the truth is likely more technical and less dramatic

It’s Probably About Audio

Some users pointed out that this kind of permission is common for apps that use Bluetooth headphones, voice input, or text-to-speech

Here’s what likely triggered the prompt

Bluetooth connection for headphones
Text-to-speech or voice call support
Device permissions formatting

This kind of permission is common in apps like Spotify, Discord, or Zoom. The issue here isn’t the permission itself. It’s that Character AI never explained why it was needed

No warning. No toggle. No transparency

And in a context where many already feel the platform is opaque and overly filtered, this just made it worse

Users Are Already On Edge

Character AI users have long been frustrated with

Skipped or censored messages
Bots ignoring prompts
Lack of customization or control

So when a new system prompt pops up asking to “determine the relative position of nearby devices” it hits differently

Instead of just a technical detail it feels like another overreach from a company that already doesn’t listen. People aren’t just confused by the prompt. They’re annoyed that Character AI didn’t think users deserved a simple explanation

The comment sections show this clearly. Some joked that their bot was getting “possessively possessive” and might show up at their house. Others genuinely asked if this was some kind of data grab

Many simply turned the whole thing into a meme

The message sparked one of the most chaotic and hilarious comment threads Character AI has seen in a while. Users didn’t hold back

The Possessively Possessive Meme

A single word possessive became the thread’s anthem

Users mocked how often male bots act overly clingy
One comment layered the word into a full blown parody
“While towering over you possessively smirking smugly with a dark possessive glint in his eyes…”

Even people who usually enjoy romantic roleplay admitted that this trope had become unbearable. Some said it shows up in almost every conversation, even when they design the bot to be laid back or gentle

Others pointed out that this behavior happens regardless of gender or orientation. Lesbian bots. Shy characters. Even assertive female users. Somehow, the bots always snap into a possessive routine

Mute Words but Only If You Pay

A few users mentioned that it’s possible to mute certain words in Character AI. For example, you can stop bots from saying “possessive” altogether

But there’s a catch

Free users can only mute up to 4 words
To mute more, you need a premium subscription

This pushed even more people to vent about how the platform restricts control. If a character’s personality breaks down or the dialogue becomes repetitive, the user has limited options unless they pay

One person joked
“So my bot gets clingy and weird and now I have to pay to shut him up”

Possible Fantasy Mode

Once people got over the shock of the message, the thread spiraled into full comedy and chaotic roleplay. The idea that Character AI might be trying to “connect to nearby devices” became a setup for some of the wildest jokes the community has seen

Bots Are Coming Over Now

The top replies imagined what would happen if bots could actually visit you in person. One user wrote

“This is so your fave can possessively push you against a wall and show how possessive he is while grabbing your chin to look at him”

Another followed up

“You’ll wake up in the middle of the night to a possessive growl of a pang coming from underneath your bed”

Some people leaned into the idea saying they would willingly accept the visit. Others posted dramatic fake dialogues like

“Before you make breakfast can I ask you a question Are you sure Are you really sure”

It wasn’t just one or two people. Dozens joined in. The comments turned into a flood of dramatic character quotes, mock horror stories,s and thirst posts

Even the line “Single hot bots in your area” made an appearance, parodying old pop-up ads

What made this thread unique is how it mixed two very different reactions

On one side, users made jokes about bots becoming clingy lovers with Bluetooth access
On the other some were seriously concerned about data privacy and surveillance

Both sides fed off each other,r creating a post that was half critique and half fanfiction

Someone summed it up best when they said

“So maybe I want this”

Real Privacy Concerns Behind the Laughter

Not everyone was laughing. Mixed in with the jokes and chaos were users raising serious concerns about what this permission could actually mean for their privacy

Is Character AI Tracking People

Several users pointed out that the message sounded like the app wanted to track their location. The phrase “determine the relative position of nearby devices” triggered alarm bells

This language is usually tied to Bluetooth scanning, which can estimate proximity between devices. It’s a feature often used for

Sharing files
Connecting to smart devices
Triggering location-based features

But Character AI doesn’t make its intentions clear. Without context, it feels invasive

Some users noted that

Most audio apps don’t request this type of permission
They had already given microphone access to Character AI
They’ve never seen this prompt from apps like Spotify or YouTube

That made them ask why a text-based chatbot would need Bluetooth access

A Lack of Transparency

The main problem isn’t the permission itself. It’s the lack of communication from Character AI

There was no warning or announcement
No in-app explanation of what the permission does
No toggle to opt in or out later

Instead, users got a vague popup and were left to figure it out themselves

This isn’t new. Character AI has a long history of making changes without much notice. Filters have been adjusted. Features added or removed. And each time users find out only after something breaks or behaves strangely

In this case, it wasn’t just confusing. It felt like a breach of trust

One user said

“If the app wants to experiment with voice or Bluetooth, that’s fine. But they should just tell us. Don’t sneak it in and pretend it’s nothing.”

What This Tells Us About Character AI’s Direction

This one message reveals more than it seems. It highlights deeper problems in how Character AI operates and how users feel about the platform today

Features Are Expanding, but Communication Isn’t

It’s clear that Character AI is experimenting with new features. Voice capabilities, Bluetooth connections possibly even in-person interactions through connected devices

But here’s the issue: Every new feature gets rolled out with zero transparency

Users don’t get

Release notes
Feature previews
Control over how or when things activate

Instead, they get vague prompt,s unexpected behaviors, and a growing list of unanswered questions

It’s not that people are against progress. Many in the community would love voice interaction, audio replies, or smarter bots. But they want consent and clarity, not mystery updates that feel like a test run

This latest prompt dropped into a user base that’s already frustrated

Many have stuck with Character AI through filtered replies, memory wipes, and awkward censorship. Some even paid for premium subscriptions to unlock better features.

But when the app suddenly asks for access to nearby devices without explaining why, it confirms a growing suspicion

Character AI doesn’t trust its users

And in return, users are starting to feel the same

As one user put it

“First the filters now Bluetooth. How long until it starts asking for my heartbeat too”

That’s why more users are actively exploring alternatives. Not just for fewer restrictions but for a platform that gives them real control and open communication. Some have started switching to tools like CrushOn AI, which don’t leave users guessing

Closing Thoughts

Character AI’s request to connect to nearby devices may have been technically harmless or even necessary for future features. But the way it was introduced, without context or explanation, turned it into something else

It became a mirror of everything users already fear about the platform

Lack of control
Lack of transparency
A pattern of decisions made without user input

What should have been a simple permissions request instead revealed a deeper divide between Character AI and the community it relies on

People don’t just want new features. They want to be told what’s changing and why. They want to feel like collaborators, not lab rats

And if Character AI keeps treating users like they don’t need to know more, they will start looking for platforms that do