Disney Invests $1bn in OpenAI to Bring Its Famous Characters to ChatGPT and Sora
According to the BBC, Disney has signed a huge $1 billion (£740m) deal with OpenAI that will allow fans to use more than 200 Disney characters inside ChatGPT and the video-generation tool Sora. BBC explains that Disney is the first major movie studio to license parts of its legendary catalogue to OpenAI.
BBC reports that characters from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Zootopia, Moana, Encanto and more will be available for people to create their own pictures and videos. This includes famous names like Luke Skywalker, Deadpool, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.
However, BBC notes that the deal does not include actors’ voices or likenesses, so how the characters will sound is still unknown.
Disney CEO Bob Iger told the BBC that the rise of AI is a major moment for the entertainment industry, and said Disney wants to use AI “thoughtfully and responsibly” to expand its storytelling.
People will be able to start generating Disney-themed images and videos in early 2026, according to the BBC.
BBC Highlights Tension Between Disney and Google
This deal also comes at a tense time. BBC reports that Disney’s lawyers recently sent Google a cease-and-desist letter, accusing the company of violating Disney’s copyrights on a large scale. The BBC has asked Google for a response.
Rights and Copyright Concerns Growing, BBC Says
According to the BBC, legal experts say this Disney-OpenAI partnership shows that big rights owners and tech companies are rushing to make formal licensing deals so that AI companies can safely use copyrighted content.
Equity, the entertainment workers’ union, told the BBC that the deal proves why performers need stronger protections. They worry that creative work could be reused by AI without proper permission or payment.
BBC Reports on Deepfake Concerns Around Sora
The BBC also reminds readers that Sora has previously sparked controversy. Its hyper-realistic videos have been used to create disturbing deepfakes of well-known figures, including Dr Martin Luther King Jr, John F. Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth II, and Stephen Hawking.
In October, BBC reports, OpenAI had to pause Sora’s ability to generate images of Dr King after offensive videos went viral.
Family members of some public figures have asked OpenAI to stop such creations, the BBC adds.
This deal marks a huge turning point where Hollywood and AI officially join forces. Disney teaming up with OpenAI—especially with such a large investment—shows that the future of entertainment will likely be a powerful mix of storytelling and AI creativity.
From one side, fans will enjoy new ways to interact with their favourite characters. But on the other side, artists, actors and creators may feel worried about how their work will be reused in the AI era. As the BBC notes, the industry is racing to find the right balance between innovation and protection.
This Disney-OpenAI partnership could set the standard for how movies, gaming, animation and AI tools will connect in the coming years.
CREDIT: BBC