🪦 Dead

Character.AI (Independent)

Acqui-hired · Acqui-hire · shut down August 2, 2024

Born
Died
Lifespan
1y 10m
Cause of death
Acqui-hire
Killed by
Google
Type
Startup

The viral AI chatbot platform where users created and talked to AI 'characters.' After safety controversies and intense competition, Google effectively acqui-hired the founders and key staff, leaving the company a shell of its former self.

Collateral damage: Users lost unique AI personalities they had spent hundreds of hours training and conversing with.

Questions about Character.AI (Independent)

Is Character.AI (Independent) dead?

Yes. Character.AI (Independent) was shut down on August 2, 2024, 1y 10m after its launch on September 16, 2022. The cause of death was acqui-hire; it was killed by Google. Classification: acqui-hired. Details and the source are above.

Also killed by Google All 20 →