Disney has agreed to invest $1 billion in OpenAI, allowing fans to use over 200 Disney characters, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars icons, on the chatbot ChatGPT and video-generation tool Sora.
The deal marks the first major studio licensing its catalogue to OpenAI, enabling users to generate and share images and videos of characters from films like Zootopia, Moana, and Encanto, starting in early 2026. Disney clarified that the agreement excludes talent voices or likenesses.
Bob Iger, Disney CEO, said the partnership will “thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling.” Intellectual property experts see the deal as a model for collaboration between rights owners and AI developers, even as unions push for stronger protections for actors’ rights.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns over AI-generated content, including offensive deepfakes of public figures, highlighting the need for safeguards as AI technology advances.
