After chatbot startup Character.AI filed for bankruptcy earlier this week, many of its employees will have the opportunity to take jobs at Disney.
Former Character.AI CEO Karandeep Anand recently became the entertainment giant’s first CTO, and the startup previously said Disney had agreed to acquire some of its assets for $20 million.
A legal filing spotted by Bloomberg revealed more details about the deal between Character.AI and Disney, with Disney agreeing to make job offers to at least 60 Character.AI employees – the majority of the workforce – paying them an estimated annual compensation of $60 million.
The filing also states that the “vast majority” of Character.AI employees who were offered jobs at Disney accepted them. However, this is an outlandish offer, so another company might offer a higher offer.
The filing states that despite its “large and engaged user base,” Character.AI has been hampered by high costs and “potential liabilities related to litigation and regulatory engagement.” (The company was sued by the mother of a 14-year-old boy who said her son became obsessed with one of Character.AI’s chatbots before killing himself; it is also the subject of government investigations over child safety concerns.)
Gn bussni
