Google has been investing in AI startups, including a $2 billion investment in model maker Anthropic.
In light of the recent news by sources, Alphabet’s Google is considering an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in Character.AI, a fast-growing artificial intelligence chatbot startup. The investment could be structured as convertible notes and would deepen the existing partnership between Character.AI and Google.
Founded by former Google employees, Character.AI allows users to chat with virtual versions of celebrities like Billie Eilish and anime characters. The company’s chatbots have appealed to users aged 18 to 24, positioning itself as the purveyor of fun personal AI companions.
Character.AI is also in talks to raise equity funding from venture capital investors, which could value the company at over $5 billion. Google has been actively investing in AI startups, including a significant investment in model maker Anthropic, showcasing the tech giant’s commitment to the AI space.