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| Google logo installed above the company building. Credit: Pawel Czerwinski |
Techneverends - Google may have found a new way to present another challenge for TikTok, this time Google acquiring Alter for $100 Million. This startup company creates artificial intelligence-based avatars used in games and social media.
TechCrunch reports that Google has confirmed their acquisition, which seems to have been covered up since two months ago without making it public. A Google representative confirmed the report to Android Central but did not share further details about the acquisition.
Several Alter executives announced via LinkedIn that they had started new jobs at Google. For instance, Alter's Co-Founder and Operating Officer, Jonathan Slimak, revealed via social media platforms that he and his team had joined Google last September. However, at this time, their new roles have not been determined.
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Twitter became one of Alter's early investors
Alter was previously known as Facemoji, a tech startup that builds a plug-and-play platform designed to provide an avatar system for games and apps without needing to rely on software development kits for its development. Last year, Facemoji raised $3 million in an initial funding round led by Play Ventures. Twitter was also among its early contributors, along with other investors.
Google's latest move is seen as another attempt to overtake TikTok. Since launching in 2020, YouTube Shorts which is a big competitor to TikTok has experienced steady growth. However, at this time, there is no clear information on how Google's acquisition of Alter is in line with its ambition to take over TikTok's market share. Following rumors earlier this year that Google was working on Project Iris, Alter could play a role in Google's AR/VR efforts, including an emerging AR headset for rendering graphics via the cloud.
With Google's latest acquisition, the relatively new field of technology seems to be gaining traction. As tech giants continue to make investments in this market, digital avatars are becoming more popular. Just like Meta, they invested heavily in developing the metaverse. It was recently rumored that it had opened a fashion store for its metaverse avatars.
Well, it's worth a try, folks. What will Google develop after this acquisition? Curious? Let's wait for the next update. But suppose you have other opinions regarding this acquisition. In that case, you can share your opinion in the comments column below, and don't forget to tell us about any technology information we missed. In addition, please visit our social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for other exciting technology news.
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