A three-year partnership is bringing ChatGPT to Disney’s workforce as part of a comprehensive deal with OpenAI that includes a $1 billion investment and character licensing for Sora. The agreement grants access to over 200 characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars franchises.
Disney announced Thursday that the partnership allows Sora users to create short social videos featuring beloved characters based on text prompts. These AI-generated videos can be shared and viewed by fans, representing a new form of audience engagement. The licensing terms carefully exclude any use of actor likenesses or voices.
The collaboration encompasses both consumer-facing and internal applications. Disney will utilize OpenAI’s tools for new product development and customer experiences, while deploying ChatGPT across its workforce for productivity enhancement. This dual approach demonstrates Disney’s comprehensive AI strategy.
CEO Bob Iger characterized the partnership as marking a critical moment for the entertainment industry. He emphasized Disney’s intention to responsibly extend its storytelling capabilities through generative AI while protecting creators and their contributions. This messaging appears designed to address concerns from entertainment professionals.
Hollywood has generally resisted AI companies, concerned about data usage and union conflicts. OpenAI has pursued conversations with several major studios about Sora’s potential, but Disney’s agreement marks a significant breakthrough. The platform’s September update introduced social features, allowing users to generate videos from text descriptions, view community content, and produce AI avatars that can appear in videos with owner permission.
