# Disney bid includes offers to at least 60 Character.AI employees

_Published Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 1:06 PM EDT · AI, Capital · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Disney bid includes offers to at least 60 Character.AI employees — Primary](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/character-ai-alexa.jpg?resize=1200,675)

Disney agreed to offer jobs to at least 60 Character.AI employees, a majority of the bankrupt chatbot startup's workforce, TechCrunch reported, citing a legal filing. The proposed hires would receive an estimated $60 million in annual compensation, and the filing says the vast majority offered positions accepted.

The employment terms add detail to Disney's previously announced agreement to acquire some Character.AI assets for $20 million. The arrangement is a stalking horse bid, which establishes an initial offer in bankruptcy proceedings and allows another company to submit a higher bid.

## Sources

- [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/18/disney-agrees-to-hire-the-majority-of-character-ais-workforce/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/6uHSzRpKgolFb7Jp3Al45C
Published: 2026-10-18T17:06:52.835Z
Story chronology: 2026-10-18T16:30:00.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-10-18T19:22:10.270Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)