Disney Unlocks Character Library for AI-Powered Social Videos

Disney has unlocked its extensive character library for AI-powered social videos through a $1 billion investment in OpenAI and a licensing partnership. The deal grants Sora access to more than 200 characters spanning Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars properties for user-generated content.
The three-year agreement announced Thursday allows Sora users to create short videos featuring Disney characters based on text prompts. These AI-generated social videos can be shared and viewed by fans, enabling new forms of engagement. The licensing terms carefully exclude any use of talent likenesses or voices.
Disney’s partnership with OpenAI encompasses multiple business dimensions. The company will become a major customer of OpenAI’s technology suite, deploying AI tools for new product development and implementing ChatGPT for employee use. This broad integration demonstrates Disney’s comprehensive AI strategy.
Bob Iger, Disney’s chief executive, characterized the partnership as marking a significant moment for the entertainment industry. He stressed that Disney would approach generative AI thoughtfully and responsibly, ensuring the technology extends the company’s storytelling capabilities while protecting creators and their work. This careful language addresses ongoing concerns about AI’s impact.
Hollywood has generally resisted AI companies, concerned about data usage and union relations. OpenAI has been in discussions with several major studios about Sora’s potential, but Disney’s commitment marks a breakthrough. The platform’s September update introduced social features, allowing users to generate videos from text descriptions, explore content from other users, and produce realistic AI avatars with user-granted permissions.