Update, Oct. 25: Character.AI filed for bankruptcy on Oct. 12 and agreed to sell some assets to Disney for $20 million. Disney is the stalking-horse bidder for a nonexclusive, perpetual license to some of the startup's intellectual property, and other bidders can top its offer, NBC News reported. Disney will help with the transition using staff it hired from Character.AI.

Walt Disney Co. has named Karandeep Anand, the former chief executive of Character.AI, as its first company-wide chief technology officer, the Los Angeles Times reported. Anand, who will also serve as senior executive vice president, starts Oct. 2 and reports to CEO Josh D'Amaro.

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He will work across the company to modernize how Disney develops and deploys technology, overseeing data and AI platforms, enterprise technology and infrastructure. Disney said "a number" of Character.AI's technical staff are expected to join with him.

"Karandeep brings a rare mix of experience across infrastructure, consumer technology and AI," D'Amaro said in a statement. "He is an expert builder and strategist, technical and product-minded, with sharp instincts for what fans actually want."