Forget the feed: Status AI raises $17M to turn social media into interactive entertainment | TechCrunch

"“AI could finally let any user actually simulate any character, not just watch or talk about their favorite worlds, but live inside them,” she told TechCrunch. “The role-play and immersion that fans had always wanted was suddenly possible at scale,” she said."

"“A user can become a celebrity with millions of followers, step inside their favorite show or book, run for president, or go viral on the internet,” Nur said. “You pick one character to be your first follower, then earn more as the story progresses.”"

"“The worlds on Status are user-generated, where settings, stories, and characters all come from player interaction. ‘You pick one character to be your first follower, then earn more as the story progresses.’ There are both multiplayer and single-player modes for users looking to connect with friends in the app.”"

"“They see Status as a way to develop audiences before bringing fans together in theaters or arenas.” The company announced Tuesday $17 million in combined seed and Series A funding, with investors including General Catalyst, Y Combinator, LightShed Partners, and Abstract."

Status AI is a gamified social media app that lets users play any character in any universe. Users craft a persona and are transported into a social world built around them. The platform supports both multiplayer and single-player modes, enabling connection with friends. Worlds, settings, stories, and characters are user-generated through player interaction, with progression driven by earning followers as the story advances. The app enables experiences such as becoming a celebrity, entering favorite shows or books, running for president, or going viral. The company is seeking interest from studios and streamers and raised $17 million in combined seed and Series A funding to bet on interactive entertainment as the next consumer social direction.

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