Character.AI in Talks to Sell or Raise Money, a Year After Founders Depart

Character.AI, the chatbot maker whose founders Google hired as part of a $2.7 billion deal last August, has in recent weeks discussed a sale of the company with potential buyers, bankers and staff, according to three people who have spoken to its executives.

The nearly four-year-old startup could try to stick it out as an independent company instead. Executives have also recently talked with investors about raising a few hundred million dollars at a valuation of more than $1 billion, according to a person with direct knowledge of the fundraising talks.