The Walt Disney Company has announced that it will make a US$1 billion (A$1.5 billion) investment into OpenAI and has become a licensing partner with Sora AI.
In a joint statement between the companies, they said more than 200 animated characters will be available on OpenAI’s short-form video generator Sora.
The characters will be from a range of franchises, including Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars. Costumes, props, vehicles and environments from the franchises will also be available.
Alongside the licensing agreement, Disney will become a major customer of OpenAI, using its APIs to build new products, tools, and experiences, including for Disney+, and deploying ChatGPT for its employees.
“Technological innovation has continually shaped the evolution of entertainment, bringing with it new ways to create and share great stories with the world,” The Walt Disney Company CEO, Robert Iger, said.
“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.”
The Disney characters are expected to be available on Sora AI and ChatGPT by early 2026.
This comes as Disney had legal battles with other AI companies using their characters' likeness, including Google, Midjourney and Character.AI.
The deal also follows Sora skyrocketing to the top of the app store after its release this year and generating controversy as users flooded the platform with videos of popular brands and characters.
This led the Motion Picture Association to make a statement that OpenAI needed to take “immediate and decisive action” to prevent copyright infringement on Sora.
