Disney to hire 60+ Character.AI staff for $180M, pending bankruptcy approval

Disney has agreed to hire more than 60 employees from Character.AI, the AI chatbot startup that filed for bankruptcy protection. Under the deal, Disney will pay roughly $180 million in salaries and benefits over three years, plus an additional $30 million in retention awards to keep the staff through a transition period. The agreement requires approval from a bankruptcy judge but signals Disney's interest in acquiring talent and technology from the struggling startup rather than letting the team disperse.