Who Buys a Bankrupt Chatbot? Disney's $20M Bid, Plus ASML's Supply Crunch | Tech Arcade Podcast
Character.AI's parent company has filed for Chapter 11 in Delaware, and Disney is the $20 million stalking horse bidder for a licence to some of its IP, not the app itself. We explain how a stalking horse auction works and why the platform could be wound down. Then: ASML beat profit forecasts with about €4.96 billion in third-quarter net income and says its planned supply won't fully meet demand in 2027 and 2028.
Full story: https://www.techarcade.io/from-2-7-billion-to-a-20-million-fire-sale-character-ai-files-for-bankruptcy/
Full story: https://www.techarcade.io/asml-just-smashed-profit-forecasts-with-5-billion-and-says-it-can-t-build-chip-machines-fa/
Sources
Character.ai announcement (Business Wire): https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261012656385/en/Character.ai-Initiates-Voluntary-Chapter-11-Proceeding-to-Facilitate-Value-Maximizing-Sale-Process
PYMNTS: https://www.pymnts.com/business/2026/character-ai-files-for-bankruptcy-and-signs-20-million-disney-deal/
Benzinga: https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/26/10/62315236/from-google-deal-to-bankruptcy-character-ai-files-for-chapter-11-puts-disney-in-drivers-seat-with-20-million-deal-for-key-assets
Axios: https://www.axios.com/2025/09/30/disney-characterai-cease-desist
Character.ai (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character.ai
ASML Q3 2026 results (GlobeNewswire): https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/14/3380319/0/en/asml-reports-11-7-billion-total-net-sales-and-5-0-billion-net-income-in-q3-2026.html
Invezz: https://invezz.com/news/2026/10/14/asml-earnings-hit-record-e5b-as-ai-demand-exceeds-supply-why-is-stock-14-down/
Saxo: https://www.home.saxo/en-hk/content/articles/macro/asia-market-quick-take--14-october-2026-14102026
Note: Google's 2024 deal is reported at about $2.7 billion; Character.ai's release is dated 12 October while some outlets give 13 October; Invezz calls ASML's EUV position a near monopoly.
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