Character.AI is entering a new phase after securing a $2.7 billion licensing agreement with Google, which included CEO Noam Shazeer’s return to the company. The startup has appointed Erin Teague, a former YouTube executive and head of sports movies and shows product management, as its chief product officer.
Teague, who has been with Google since 2016, will be joining Character.AI soon. She has previously served as a technical advisor to senior executives overseeing products such as Search, Ads, Maps, and Assistant.
In a statement, Teague expressed her excitement for joining Character.AI, highlighting its role in shaping personalized AI experiences and her eagerness to contribute to its future innovations.
The company announced Shazeer’s return to Google in August, along with co-founder Daniel De Freitas and 30 researchers. Following these exits, interim CEO Dominic Perella shared that Character.AI is currently focused on consumer AI solutions, with the remaining team primarily working on engineering and product development.
Teague’s hiring is the first significant addition to the team since the departure of the co-founders. The company is also seeking additional leadership, including a new CEO.
Character.AI, now entirely employee-owned after buying out its investors, boasts over 20 million monthly users and 100 million AI characters. Its product has evolved to allow users to engage with AI characters via voice calls, with 40% of users having made at least one call.
Despite the launch of a $9.99 c.ai+ subscription, the company is prioritizing growth over revenue generation. Character.AI has received interest from companies looking to use its AI-powered characters but has not yet confirmed any specific partnerships.
According to Perella, the platform's future lies in creating personalized experiences that surpass traditional algorithmic feeds.