Disney to Hire 60+ Character.AI Staff in $210M Acqui-Hire Deal
NewsData.io · United States · Oct 18, 2026
Disney has agreed to hire more than 60 employees from Character.AI as part of a deal valued at approximately $180 million over three years, plus $30 million in retention awards, according to a court filing. The arrangement requires approval from a bankruptcy judge, as layoffs during bankruptcy proceedings are common. For recruiters, this signals that AI talent remains highly valued even in distressed-company scenarios, and the acqui-hire structure offers a model for how firms can compete for specialized AI workers.
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