Character.AI

Leading consumer-focused AI chatbot platform with millions of active users

Character.AI is an artificial intelligence company that provides a platform for creating and conversing with AI-powered characters. Founded by former Google AI researchers Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, the platform allows users to interact with chatbots that can take on various personalities, from historical figures to fictional characters to custom-created personas. The service uses large language models to enable natural, contextual conversations. In October 2024, Google acquired Character.AI's technology and team in a licensing deal valued at approximately $2.7 billion, with founders Shazeer and De Freitas returning to Google. Character.AI continues to operate as a subsidiary, maintaining its consumer-facing platform while Google gains access to its underlying AI technology and talent. The company serves millions of users who engage with AI characters for entertainment, education, creative writing, language practice, and companionship, representing a significant player in the consumer AI application space rather than traditional advertising technology.