Menlo Park, CA · founded 2021
Character.AI runs one of the largest consumer AI-companion platforms, where users create and chat with customizable AI characters. Founded in 2021 by ex-Google researchers Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, it hit a $1B valuation in 2023, then in August 2024 Google struck a non-exclusive tech-licensing deal and hired the founders back, leaving the remaining company under new leadership (Karandeep Anand became CEO in 2025). It describes itself as 'a small, passionate team,' and honestly the biggest caveat is external: the company has faced serious content-moderation controversies and lawsuits over harm to minors, and now restricts under-18 users.
see the full file on Character.AI| Birthing-parent leave | 20 weeks |
|---|---|
| Partner leave | 12 weeks |
| How leave is framed | birthing_partner |
| Employer pays full premium | yes |
| Share of premium employer pays | 100% |
| Dental | yes |
| Vision | yes |
| Life insurance | yes |
| Disability | yes |
| HSA (health savings account) | yes |
| 401(k) match | offered |
| PTO | 20 days |
| Offices | Bay Area, New York, Seattle |
| Food | lunch |
| Commuter subsidy | $50 |
| Commuter benefit | yes |
| Wellness stipend | offered |
Every claim above is sourced and dated. See sources on the full page.
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