Walt Disney The company and OpenAI have struck a deal in which Disney will buy a stake in the company for $1 billion. Disney will also allow the creation of images featuring many of the studio giant's characters (but not the actors or their likenesses) through the Sora video platform and ChatGPT. The agreement will allow users to create and share their Disney-powered creations, as well as bring OpenAI and ChatGPT to the corporation. Disney and OpenAI say that they will also use artificial intelligence to create “new experiences” for fans.
Characters included in the deal include Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Lilo, Stitch, Ariel, Belle, Beast, Cinderella, Baymax, Simba, Mufasa, Black Panther, Captain America, Deadpool, Groot, Iron Man, Loki, Thor, Thanos, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Leia, The Mandalorian, Stormtroopers and Yoda, as well as characters from Encanto, Frozen, Inside. “Out”, “Moana”, “Monsters Inc.”, “Toy Story”, “Up”, “Zootopia” and many others.
“Technological innovation is constantly shaping the evolution of entertainment, bringing with it new ways to create and share great stories with the world,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger. “The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and through this collaboration with OpenAI, we will thoughtfully and responsibly expand the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works. Combining iconic Disney stories and characters with OpenAI's groundbreaking technology puts imagination and creativity directly into the hands of Disney fans in ways we've never seen before, giving them richer and more personal ways to connect with Disney characters and the stories they love.”
“Disney is the global gold standard in storytelling, and we are excited about the partnership that will allow Sora and ChatGPT Images to empower people to create and engage with great content,” adds OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. “This agreement shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to advance innovation that benefits society, respect the importance of creativity, and help their work reach huge new audiences.”
I don't think anyone would blame today's Disney for putting artistic vision first, but it's another layer of separation between what made Disney so huge in the first place – the monumental effort and care of human artists – and its current content-centric philosophy.
Disney has traditionally not hesitated to crack down on unauthorized depictions of its beloved characters, right down to its subsidiaries such as Marvel and Lucasfilmand now he's even stalking Google AI for allegedly violating the copyright of its characters' images (via Deadline).
Even from the most charitable view of generative AI models, the OpenAI deal seems to confirm that Disney's priority is not the development of human creativity, but the desire for greater control over the entertainment industry.
Disney has put the brakes on a deal that will only allow content types that are directly approved by the corporation, meaning you won't see anything obscene or harmful (at least through the official apps).
Disney IP is scheduled to appear on OpenAI in 2026. To see some of the characters appear on the platform, stay tuned for all the news. upcoming disney movies in the works.
