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Berlin-based AI gaming startup Born is challenging the prevailing notion of AI companions as isolating and exploitative. CEO Fabian Kamberi argues that these technologies should foster shared experiences rather than exacerbate the loneliness epidemic. As the company gears up to launch new features and characters for its flagship app, the focus remains on enhancing real-world relationships through digital interactions.
Born’s Vision for AI Companions
Kamberi believes that the current market of AI companions often leads users into one-on-one interactions with chatbots, which can feel isolating. “It fuels the loneliness epidemic, instead of making it more fun and giving users the opportunity to make their lives better,” he stated during an interview. The vision for Born is to create AI companions that enable users to engage in shared activities, thus reinforcing real-life connections.
Born’s flagship product, an app featuring a virtual pet named Pengu, embodies this vision. Users can raise, play minigames, and co-parent Pengu with friends or romantic partners, creating a collaborative environment. This innovative approach transforms a simple virtual pet experience into a shared project that encourages deeper interactions both with the AI and among users.
While the app operates on a freemium model, where users can purchase a Pengu Pass for additional features, Born boasts over 15 million global users. However, the company has not disclosed the number of paying customers, a critical metric for any subscription-based business.
The Future of Born and AI Companions
With recent funding, Born plans to enhance the Pengu app by introducing new characters and launching additional social AI products aimed at young people. Kamberi highlighted the importance of creating engaging and relatable AI interactions that can evolve with users. The startup has successfully raised $15 million in Series A funding, bringing its total investment to $25 million, with participation from notable investors like Accel and Tencent.
Previously known as Slay, the company’s earlier focus was on social media interactions for teenagers, emphasizing positive digital engagement. This pivot to AI companions retains that ethos, aiming to enrich social connections through technology.
In addition to expanding its character lineup, Born is set to open a new office in New York later this year, focusing on marketing and AI research. This research will help develop AI friends with consistent personalities and the ability to remember user interactions, enhancing the overall user experience.
Innovative Features and Market Expansion
Born is also preparing to unveil a new AI social product targeted at users aged 16 to 21, with accessibility for children as young as 13. The upcoming product, still under wraps, promises culturally relevant AI companions that engage users with familiar content from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Kamberi expressed excitement about the potential for this product to create network effects as users share their experiences online.
“We don’t believe that the current chatbot landscape is the final form for how AI friends and consumer AI should be developed,” Kamberi emphasized. The goal is to create a more engaging platform than the typical text-based interactions users experience today.
Luca Bocchio, a partner at Accel, echoed this sentiment, praising Born’s ambition to establish a new consumer social category built around emotionally intelligent AI characters. “We’ve been really impressed by the team’s ability to develop chart-topping apps and their inspiring product vision,” Bocchio said, looking forward to supporting Born’s global expansion.