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Google Eyes Significant Investment in Character.AI to Boost AI Chatbot Capabilities

By  |  November 12, 2023

Alphabet’s Google is reportedly in advanced talks to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Character.AI, a burgeoning artificial intelligence chatbot startup. The move comes as Character.AI aims to secure additional capital for the training of its models and to keep pace with escalating user demand, according to information from Reuters.

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    Character.AI already enjoys a robust partnership with Google, utilizing the tech giant’s cloud services and Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) for the training of its AI models. This potential investment is poised to deepen this collaboration further, showcasing Google’s commitment to fostering innovation in the AI space.

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    Read more: Alphabet’s AI Chatbot Bard Launches In Europe

    Founded by former Google employees Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, Character.AI has quickly gained traction by offering users the unique experience of interacting with virtual versions of celebrities such as Billie Eilish or beloved anime characters. Additionally, the platform allows users to create their own chatbots and AI assistants. While the service is free to use, Character.AI employs a subscription model, charging $9.99 a month for users seeking to expedite access to their preferred chatbot.

    Character.AI has found a dedicated user base, particularly among individuals aged 18 to 24, who contribute to approximately 60% of the platform’s website traffic. The company’s chatbots offer a diverse range of roles and tones for users to choose from, distinguishing itself as a provider of entertaining and personalized AI companions. This strategic positioning sets Character.AI apart from other AI chatbots in the market, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard.

    Source: Reuters