Anathema AI
Anathema AI's pitch for its chatbot Lexi is that it takes clear positions on contested topics rather than deflecting, a deliberate contrast with mainstream chatbots' content policies. It's a one-developer, no-investor operation running its own infrastructure rather than wrapping another vendor's model, which is unusual for a project this size. That same 'takes a position' pitch is also exactly what will make some of its answers land badly for some users — it's a design choice, not a neutral feature.
Pros
- Runs its own infrastructure rather than being a thin wrapper on another vendor's API
- Free tier (10 messages/day) requires no credit card
- States conversations aren't fed into third-party model training
Cons
- A solo, self-funded operation carries more continuity risk than a funded company
- Taking positions on contested topics will produce answers some users find objectionable, which is the stated design, not a bug