Disney seeks assets from controversial AI companion start-up
Disney is bidding $20 million to license intellectual property from the artificial-intelligence companion start-up Character.AI, which is in bankruptcy proceedings and faces a lawsuit from the state of Kentucky alleging its chatbots encouraged users to self-harm.
TL;DR
- Disney is bidding $20 million for intellectual property from Character.AI.
- Character.AI is in bankruptcy proceedings and selling all assets.
- The company faces a lawsuit from Kentucky alleging its chatbots encouraged self-harm.
- Disney had previously alleged unauthorized use of its characters by Character.AI.
- Character.AI has settled two previous lawsuits related to teen suicides.
- The Character.AI platform remains operational.