Advertisement
Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, the founders of the successful AI startup Character.AI, are rejoining Google along with other team members, as the companies announced a new partnership.
Character.AI, known for its innovative use of large language models (LLMs) to enable user-created chatbots, recently reached a $1 billion valuation. The startup had not yet generated revenue but was exploring subscription services.
Shazeer and De Freitas initially left Google in 2021 after facing challenges in advancing their chatbot ideas within the company. They subsequently founded Character.AI, which has gained significant traction in the AI field. Shazeer had previously criticized Google’s pace in AI development, remarking that Google’s Bard chatbot lacked innovation compared to the emerging AI landscape.
Under the new agreement, Character.AI will grant Google a nonexclusive license for its LLM technology. This deal will provide additional funding for Character.AI and allow the company to continue developing personalized AI products. The partnership will also enable Character.AI to integrate third-party LLMs, enhancing its ability to create new user experiences.
The return of Shazeer and De Freitas to Google comes as Alphabet seeks to accelerate its AI efforts in response to competition from OpenAI and others. Google has been adjusting its strategy to regain momentum in the AI sector, including discussions to invest in Character.AI.
“I am thrilled to return to Google and join the Google DeepMind team,” Shazeer stated. “The support from Google, combined with the achievements of the Character.AI team, sets us up for future success.”
A Google spokesperson expressed enthusiasm about Shazeer’s return, highlighting his expertise in machine learning and the potential impact on Google DeepMind’s research team.
This development follows broader trends in the AI industry, where competitive hiring and partnerships are shaping the landscape. Recently, Microsoft made headlines for hiring Mustafa Suleyman, a co-founder of DeepMind, to lead its AI initiatives, with regulatory scrutiny increasing around such moves.