What you should know
– Artificial intelligence is playing a significant role in the mobile tech industry
– Google, Samsung, and Apple are among the companies incorporating AI features into their devices
– Google is in discussions to invest in Character.AI, a rapidly growing AI chatbot startup
– Character.AI offers users the ability to chat with virtual versions of celebrities and tech tycoons.
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The intersection of artificial intelligence and mobile technology is becoming more evident as companies like Google, Samsung, and Apple pour resources into AI development. Google’s latest Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are heavily infused with AI features, while Samsung is preparing to launch its Galaxy S24 series with the new AI model, Gauss. Even Apple is working on integrating generative AI into its iPhone 16 series. While on-device AI features are still in development, AI-driven apps have been available for some time, with Google showing a keen interest in investing in this area.
According to Reuters, Google is in talks to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Character.AI, a fast-growing AI chatbot startup. The potential investment may be structured as convertible notes and will further solidify the existing partnership between Character.AI and Google. The startup, founded by former Google employees Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, has gained popularity for its ability to enable users to chat with virtual versions of celebrities like Cristiano Ronaldo or tech tycoons like Elon Musk and Bill Gates, as well as create their own chatbots and AI assistants.
Character.AI offers a free chatbot service, but also has a subscription model with a $9.99 per month fee for users who want to access chatbots without waiting in virtual lines. The company has attracted a significant user base aged 18 to 24, comprising about 60% of the website’s traffic. This demographic positioning sets the company apart as a more entertaining and personalized AI companion compared to its competitors.
In the app world, Character.AI has been making waves, securing a nomination among the top 10 for Google Play Users’ Choice App of the Year. Voting for the awards continues until November 14, allowing users to vote for their favorite app, game, or book on Google Play.
