Lex Fridman Podcast of AI Google pays $2.7 Billion for Character.AI
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Nov 30, 2024 A recent $2.7 billion licensing deal has put Google in the spotlight as it acquires Character AI. The discussion dives into the fascinating background of founder Noam Shazir and how such strategic moves impact the competitive AI landscape. It highlights the race among tech giants to harness top talent and technology, emphasizing the critical role AI tools play in financial growth and innovation. Tune in to explore the future of AI development and the high stakes involved!
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Google's Character.AI Deal
- Google paid $2.7 billion to license Character.AI, not acquire it, likely due to regulatory concerns.
- Noam Shazir, Character.AI's founder, and his core team will join Google.
The Story of Mina
- Noam Shazir, a former Google employee, developed a chatbot called Mina in 2017.
- Google refused to release Mina due to safety and fairness concerns, leading Shazir to leave in 2021.
Google's Innovation Dilemma
- Google likely delayed AI innovation to protect its substantial ad revenue, estimated at over a trillion dollars in the last six years.
- Perplexity's model suggests AI chatbots can incorporate ads, potentially addressing Google's concerns.