Karandeep Anand

2026-10-19

COMPANIES · 1 SOURCE · WIRED AI

Disney hired most of Character.AI staff and seeks license to its tech via Chapter 11

Court filings show Disney paid Character.AI $5.5M (plus a $2M refundable deposit) in September, hired the majority of its employees including CEO Karandeep Anand, and is using Character.AI’s Chapter 11 proceedings to pursue a perpetual, worldwide, nonexclusive license to large parts of the startup’s codebase and safety tools; Disney would pay an additional $12.5M if it wins the auction. The arrangement — described in filings as two integrated transactions and characterized by experts as a form of “reverse acquihire” — appears designed to transfer talent and technology while leaving legal liabilities with the remnant Character.AI entity, raising regulatory and litigation concerns.

8.0

2026-10-18

COMPANIES · 1 SOURCE · TechCrunch AI

Disney to hire majority of Character.AI staff after startup files for bankruptcy

A legal filing shows Disney agreed to make employment offers to at least 60 Character.AI employees — the majority of the startup’s workforce — with an estimated $60 million in annual compensation; the filing also says the vast majority accepted. The deal accompanies a separate agreement for Disney to acquire some Character.AI assets for $20 million and follows the startup’s recent bankruptcy filing and the hiring of former Character.AI CEO Karandeep Anand as Disney’s CTO; the sale is currently a stalking-horse bid and could be topped by another buyer.

7.0

2026-10-13

STARTUPS · 3 SOURCES · The Verge AI · TechCrunch AI · The Decoder

Character.AI files for Chapter 11; Disney to buy assets for $20M

Character.AI has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US, listing estimated liabilities of $50–100 million, and is seeking to sell its assets. Disney is the lead bidder under a proposed deal that would pay $20 million for certain assets, hire some former Character.AI staff including ex‑CEO Karandeep Anand, and receive a nonexclusive IP license; the company says it will continue operating while the sale process proceeds and may be wound down if no suitable bid emerges.

8.0

2026-09-18

COMPANIES · 1 SOURCE · TechCrunch AI

Disney hires Karandeep Anand, former Character.AI CEO, as first chief technology officer

Disney has appointed Karandeep Anand — who served as CEO of Character.AI — as its first-ever chief technology officer, a pick made by new CEO Josh D’Amaro. Character.AI, which Anand led after advising the company, was the subject of a Disney cease-and-desist in September 2025 over alleged copyright infringement and has faced other legal complaints.

7.0