Shapes Exits Stealth With $8M Seed Led by Lightspeed — AI Characters in Human Group Chats, 400K MAU

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Shapes emerged from stealth on April 29 with $8M seed funding from Lightspeed and AI Grant, offering an app where labeled AI characters ('Shapes') participate in human group chats like regular users (TechCrunch coverage). Already at 400K+ MAU with 3 million user-created Shapes, the Gen Z-focused app addresses 'AI psychosis' from isolated AI interactions by making AI conversations social. One of the first companies to commercialize GPT-3, now pivoting the companion AI model into group dynamics.