OpenAI Partners with Disney to Bring Beloved Characters to ChatGPT

Entertainment giant Disney is investing $1 billion (£740 million) in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT and Sora, to allow its iconic characters to be used in the AI tools.

This marks the first time a major studio has licensed its content catalogue to OpenAI, a move expected to significantly shape Disney’s future strategies in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

The deal will grant fans access to over 200 characters from Disney’s vast franchises, including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, enabling them to create and share images and videos featuring these beloved figures. Characters like Luke Skywalker, Deadpool, Moana, and of course, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, will be available for use.

However, Disney clarified that the agreement does not extend to the likenesses or voices of the actors who portray these characters. “The agreement does not include any talent likenesses or voices,” the company stated.

Disney CEO Bob Iger emphasized the importance of this collaboration, saying, “The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry. Through this collaboration with OpenAI we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling.”

Users can anticipate the ability to generate content with Disney characters in Sora and ChatGPT starting in early 2026.

The investment comes as Disney takes a firm stance on copyright protection, recently issuing a cease-and-desist letter to Google over alleged large-scale copyright infringement. The BBC has reached out to Google for comment.

Intellectual property expert Joel Smith, a partner at Simmons & Simmons, noted that this deal “shows rights owners and major AI developers are moving fast to strike collaborative licensing deals to access content for training and future use.”

Meanwhile, concerns are growing within the entertainment industry regarding the impact of AI on creative jobs. Equity, the UK-based entertainment trade union, is currently balloting its members on whether to refuse digital scanning on set, pushing for stronger AI safeguards.

Cathy Sweet, Equity’s head of TV and Film, stated, “The deal between Disney and OpenAI reinforced exactly why our members are fighting for AI protections. The recorded material that will be sold on as part of this eye-watering big money deal are the result of creatives’ professional work, and their rights must be protected.”

The move also follows controversies surrounding Sora’s ability to generate hyper-realistic videos, including instances of offensive deepfakes featuring deceased public figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., President John F. Kennedy, and Robin Williams. OpenAI paused the generation of images of Dr. King following public outcry over disrespectful depictions, and Zelda Williams, Robin Williams’ daughter, has publicly requested people stop sharing AI-generated videos of her father.

This investment highlights the increasing intersection of entertainment and artificial intelligence, with Warner Music Group also recently announcing an AI music venture with Suno after initially suing the company.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE