Disney Invests in OpenAI and Signs Deal for AI Videos
© OpenAI
(eap) As was recently announced, Disney will be working with “ChatGPT” developer OpenAI to enable users to access more than 200 animated characters from the Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars universes for the creation of AI-generated videos. Until now, this was not permitted for copyright reasons. Users will be able to do this via the OpenAI video app “Sora”, allowing fans to produce short social media video clips generated via prompts and then share them with each other. A selection of the videos created in this way will be available on the “Disney+” streaming platform in the future. ChatGPT Images will also be able to convert user prompts into fully generated images that use the same IPs within a few seconds. Images of real people and their voices are not included in the deal.
The license agreement was initially signed for a period of three years and will start in early 2026. Disney itself will also become a customer of OpenAI, with the US media company using the company’s AI software to create own new products and experiences for Disney+, among other platforms, and making the ChatGPT chatbot available to its workforce. At the same time, Disney is investing one billion US dollars (approx. 850 million euros) in OpenAI as part of the deal and securing options for further shares. In public discourse, this move by Disney – as a pioneer in the media industry – is seen as a strategic sign for the future of the creative industry.
“The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and through this collaboration with OpenAI we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works. […]” says Robert A. Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company. Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, comments: “This agreement shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to promote innovation that benefits society, respect the importance of creativity, and help works reach vast new audiences.” ■
