Disney structures deal to acquire Character.AI staff and technology

Disney structures deal to acquire Character.AI staff and technology

According to WIRED, Disney structured a two-stage transaction on October 20 that gives the company a worldwide license to Character. AI’s code and allows it to retain most of the startup’s 66 employees, while the bankrupt firm remains liable for ongoing lawsuits. The deal follows Character.

AI’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 13, as reported by CNN, which noted Disney’s $20 million offer for part of the startup’s intellectual property. Futurism added that the bankruptcy stemmed from high compute costs and low revenue. Business Insider later reported that Disney will employ the 66 former staff with an annual $60 million salary package and a $30 million retention pool.

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Character.ai The Walt Disney Company Karandeep Anand Noam Shazeer Daniel de Freitas

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Florida, United States Washington, DC, United States

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Հոկտեմբեր 20, 2026
1 ընդհանուր
Disney Budgets $180M For Staff From Bankrupt Character.AI
Disney Budgets $180M For Staff From Bankrupt Character.AI

Cartoon Brew • 20 Հոկ 13:22

Disney announced a three-year $180 million plan to retain 66 staff members from the bankrupt chatbot startup Character.AI, part of its broader restructuring and AI strategy.

Վստահելիություն 72% Մանիպ. 10% Կենտրոն
Հոկտեմբեր 19, 2026
1 ընդհանուր
Disney Asked Character.AI to Go Bankrupt for a Get-Out-of-Lawsuits Card
Disney Asked Character.AI to Go Bankrupt for a Get-Out-of-Lawsuits Card

WIRED • 19 Հոկ 09:00

Disney has arranged a two-stage transaction that would give it a worldwide license to Character.AI’s code and allow it to retain most of the startup’s employees, while the bankrupt company would remain liable for ongoing lawsuits and investigations.

Վստահելիություն 78% Մանիպ. 12% Կենտրոն
Հոկտեմբեր 16, 2026
1 ընդհանուր
Disney Pays $60 Million to 66 Character.AI Staffers After Tech Layoffs
Disney Pays $60 Million to 66 Character.AI Staffers After Tech Layoffs

Business Insider • 16 Հոկ 15:01

Disney will employ 66 former Character.AI employees, committing $60 million per year in salaries and an additional $30 million retention pool as part of its AI strategy.

Վստահելիություն 78% Մանիպ. 10% Կենտրոն
Հոկտեմբեր 14, 2026
1 ընդհանուր
Other AI Companies Should Be Very Afraid of What Just Happened to Character.AI, According to Its Own Bankruptcy Documents
Other AI Companies Should Be Very Afraid of What Just Happened to Character.AI, According to Its Own Bankruptcy Documents

Futurism • 14 Հոկ 18:52

Character.AI filed for Chapter 11 after months of high compute costs and low revenue, a development analysts say may serve as a warning for other AI firms reliant on venture funding.

Վստահելիություն 72% Մանիպ. 32% Կենտրոն
Հոկտեմբեր 13, 2026
1 ընդհանուր
Character.ai files for bankruptcy following lawsuits alleging ties to teen suicides
Character.ai files for bankruptcy following lawsuits alleging ties to teen suicides

CNN • 13 Հոկ 15:38

AI chatbot startup Character.ai has entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy and seeks a court-supervised sale, with Disney offering $20 million for part of its intellectual property.

Վստահելիություն 72% Մանիպ. 9% Կենտրոն