"Chatbot Startup Character.AI Valued at $1 Billion After $150 Million Funding Round"

Character.AI, an AI startup founded by two former Google employees, has raised $150 million at a $1 billion valuation in a funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The company's technology allows users to create a fully-customizable and personalized AI companion with a distinct personality and values. The funding will allow the company to expand its compute abilities, grow its team, and add technical abilities. The 10-figure valuation for a pre-revenue company is reminiscent of other recently hyped technologies like crypto and social audio.