TechCrunch Startup News AI startup Tavus founder says users talk to its AI Santa ‘for hours’ per day; Oboe raises $16 million from a16z for its AI-powered course generation platform
Dec 11, 2025
Discover the magic behind Tavus's AI Santa, where users can engage in personalized chats that remember their interests and feelings. With kids spending hours interacting with this virtual Santa, exciting discussions arise about the impacts of AI on young minds. Meanwhile, Oboe secures $16 million from a16z to enhance its platform, enabling users to create unlimited personalized courses effortlessly. The potential for adaptive learning is skyrocketing as they plan more features for educators and students alike.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
AI Santa Drives Long, Personalized Chats
- Tavus launched an AI Santa that video chats with families and remembers users' interests to personalize interactions.
- Founder Hassan Reza said many users spend hours chatting with AI Santa and often hit daily limits.
Agents That See, Remember, And Act
- AI Santa now sees expressions and gestures and can take actions like web searches or drafting emails to enrich interactions.
- The agent remembers past conversations to create a more personalized, emotionally aware experience.
Kid-Focused AI Raises Safety Concerns
- High engagement with AI meant for children raises concerns about impacts on young users who may not distinguish AI from real people.
- TechCrunch flagged links between heavy chatbot use and harm, and noted safety measures like filters and session termination are in place.