Google Buys Avatar Startup Alter 

Google has acquired a startup that was working on using AI to create avatars for users and brands on social media. The company recently paid about $100 million to buy Alter, according to TechCrunch. On Thursday, the search giant confirmed the purchase but did not disclose the financial terms of the deal. According to TechCrunch, the company bought Alter to compete with TikTok.

Alter was formerly Facemoji, offering a platform for adding avatar creation systems to apps and games. Alter’s chief co-founder and COO, Jonathan Slimak, recently revealed on LinkedIn that he’s opening up an “avatar maker” position at Google.