速递｜谷歌“伪收购”一年后，Character.AI 估值超10亿美元，终局面临出售或融资的双重选择

Core Viewpoint - Character.AI, a chatbot manufacturer, is exploring options for sale or financing, while also considering remaining independent. The company has seen significant user growth but faces rising operational costs and legal challenges [2][3][5]. Group 1: Company Overview - Character.AI was founded nearly four years ago and has around 70 employees. The company has grown its monthly active users to 20 million as of February [3]. - The company primarily generates revenue through a subscription model, charging $9.99 per month for voice interaction with text-based chatbots [4]. - Character.AI's annualized revenue is projected to reach $50 million by the end of the year, up from approximately $30 million last month, reflecting a significant growth trajectory [4]. Group 2: Financial and Operational Insights - The company is considering raising several hundred million dollars at a valuation exceeding $1 billion, which equates to about 33 times its recent revenue [3][4]. - Character.AI has ceased developing its own AI models and is now utilizing open-source models from companies like DeepSeek and Meta, which has reduced development costs but still incurs monthly operational expenses of several million dollars [4]. Group 3: Legal and Market Challenges - Character.AI is currently facing two lawsuits related to allegations of harmful content directed at minors, and it is under investigation by the Texas Attorney General for misleading marketing practices [5]. - The market demand for user-generated AI chatbots remains uncertain, as several tech giants have launched similar products without achieving significant market penetration [6].