Google Acquires AI Avatar Startup Alter for $100 Million

Bradley Rhodes -

Google has acquired Alter, a startup that works on an artificial intelligence-based avatar generator, for about $100 million. This was reported by Tech Crunch, citing a source familiar with the matter. A Google representative confirmed information about the acquisition but refused to comment on the deal's financial terms.

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According to the source, the deal was completed two months ago, but was not publicly disclosed. Some of Alter's top executives have updated their LinkedIn profiles and indicated joining Google, without mentioning the acquisition.

According to a source familiar with the situation, Google hopes to use Alter to improve and expand its content offerings and better compete with TikTok.

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Formerly known as Facemoji, Alter offers a platform that other developers could use to add avatar creation systems to their games or apps. The startup received seed funding of $3 million from Play Ventures, Roosh Ventures and Twitter.