[…] Chatbot development company Character.ai has recently engaged in preliminary discussions with Meta and Elon Musk’s xAI regarding potential collaborations. According to a Financial Times report dated May 24, these talks have focused on the co-development and pre-training of AI models rather than considerations of acquisition, with no agreements finalized yet.Character.ai, known for its utilization of large language models (LLMs) to create chatbots that mimic various personas, is exploring these collaborations amid broader interest from tech giants in partnering with AI startups to advance innovative technologies. This interest is tempered by a cautious approach to acquisitions, driven by concerns over potential regulatory scrutiny globally.The startup, which went public in 2022, has been actively expanding its technological offerings. In April, Character.ai announced its next-generation web platform aimed at providing “personalized AI for every moment of the day,” signaling its ambition to empower users with artificial general intelligence (AGI).Concurrently, xAI, another key player in the AI space, has been developing its chatbot named Grok, which was launched in November 2023. Grok is described as “spicy” and “rebellious,” designed to deliver responses with a touch of humor. xAI underscored this aspect in a notice on its website, advising those averse to humor against using Grok.In a significant financial move, xAI announced on May 26 that it had secured $6 billion in a Series B funding round. The funds are earmarked for the market introduction of their first products, enhancement of infrastructure, and intensification of R&D efforts.Meanwhile, Meta has been advancing its AI technology, introducing 28 AI-powered personas in September 2023. These new AI characters are designed to exhibit distinct personalities, opinions, and interests, aiming to make interactions more engaging. Meta also disclosed that its investment in AI and its metaverse development division, Reality Labs, is projected to be between $35 billion and $40 billion by the end of 2024.SOURCE […]