Key Highlights:

• Disney is investing $1 billion for a major stake in OpenAI, forging a groundbreaking strategic alliance.
• The partnership centers on a multi-year licensing agreement that will integrate Disney’s vast character library into OpenAI’s Sora video generation platform.
• This move signals a transformative shift in how iconic entertainment franchises will engage with audiences through generative AI technology.

The landmark deal grants OpenAI users unprecedented access to a curated vault of more than 200 beloved characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars. Beginning next year, fans will be able to use Sora to create and share original short videos featuring these characters, complete with authentic costumes, props, and settings.

This initiative represents a controlled yet revolutionary opening of Disney’s intellectual property for user-generated content powered by advanced artificial intelligence.

Beyond public-facing creativity, the alliance deepens with Disney becoming a premier enterprise customer of OpenAI’s technology. The company plans to leverage OpenAI’s APIs and models, including ChatGPT, to develop next-generation tools and experiences for its streaming service, Disney+, and for internal employee productivity.

This dual-purpose application highlights Disney’s strategy to harness AI both for consumer innovation and operational advancement.

Central to the partnership is a jointly affirmed commitment to the responsible development and application of artificial intelligence. Disney and OpenAI have pledged to advance human-centered AI that prioritizes user safety, respects creator rights, and seeks to expand storytelling possibilities. The collaboration is positioned as a model for how major creative enterprises can engage with AI innovators ethically.

The transaction, pending final negotiations and customary closing conditions, marks one of the most significant mergers of traditional media and cutting-edge AI to date. It underscores Disney’s aggressive push to remain at the forefront of technological adoption while strategically monetizing its legendary content libraries in the new digital creative economy.

“Technological innovation has continually shaped the evolution of entertainment, bringing with it new ways to create and share great stories with the world,” said Robert A. Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “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.

Bringing together Disney’s iconic stories and characters with OpenAI’s groundbreaking technology puts imagination and creativity directly into the hands of Disney fans in ways we’ve never seen before, giving them richer and more personal ways to connect with the Disney characters and stories they love.”

“Disney is the global gold standard for storytelling, and we’re excited to partner to allow Sora and ChatGPT Images to expand the way people create and experience great content,” said Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI. “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.”