Karandeep Anand, CEO of Character.AI, is slated to participate in a fireside chat on the AI Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco this October. His session is expected to focus on the rapid expansion of human-like AI companions, discussing associated ethical considerations, legal challenges, and Character.AI's strategic approach to innovation amidst regulatory scrutiny.
Character.AI, a platform specializing in conversational artificial intelligence, currently serves approximately 20 million monthly active users globally. Under Anand's leadership, the company is actively pursuing expansion into new modalities, including video generation, alongside developing monetization initiatives and forging strategic partnerships, according to details released by TechCrunch. The company's trajectory underscores the rapid evolution of AI applications in personalized interaction.
Anand's professional background provides a foundation for his current role. Prior to leading Character.AI, he served as President and Chief Product Officer at Brex, where he oversaw the launch of the AI-driven Brex Assistant and the Empower spend management platform. His experience also includes a tenure as Vice President and Head of Business Products at Meta, connecting billions of people and serving 200 million businesses through platforms such as Ads, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Earlier in his career, Anand spent 15 years at Microsoft, contributing to product management for Azure Cloud and developer platforms, offering a comprehensive perspective on scaling technology.
The fireside chat, scheduled to take place at Moscone West from October 27-29, 2025, is expected to delve into the technical breakthroughs that enable lifelike dialogue in AI. Discussions will also address the ethical questions inherent in sophisticated conversational AI and the intensified scrutiny that accompanies advancements in human-computer interaction. TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is projected to convene over 10,000 founders, investors, and innovators, offering a broad forum for these discussions.
