Disney has teamed up with AI giant OpenAI in a three-year deal that brings over 200 beloved characters from its vast library to the Disney-owned app Sora, as well as ChatGPT. The partnership will enable users to generate images and videos featuring these iconic characters, including Star Wars and Pixar favorites like Black Panther and Han Solo.
The agreement does not include voices or talent likenesses of the characters, so users won't be able to prompt Sora or ChatGPT to create videos with live-action versions of their favorite stars. Instead, they'll have access to animated and illustrated versions of these characters, which will be available for use in both Sora and ChatGPT starting early 2026.
This deal represents a significant shift in how Disney is approaching AI-generated content, as CEO Bob Iger had previously promised to bring such features to its platforms. The partnership with OpenAI promises to expand the creative possibilities of users, allowing them to tap into Disney's vast library of intellectual property in new and innovative ways.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hailed the deal as a major coup for his company, saying it shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to promote innovation that benefits society. "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," he said.
However, not everyone is celebrating this deal. The Writers Guild of America has expressed its discontent with the partnership, stating that it appears to sanction Disney's theft of writers' work and cedes the value of what creators produce to a tech company built on their intellectual property. The union plans to meet with Disney to probe the terms of the deal and ensure compliance with contracts and applicable laws.
SAG-AFTRA, the screen actors union, has taken a more measured approach, issuing a statement assuring its members that Disney and OpenAI have reached out to offer assurances about meeting their contractual and legal obligations. The union plans to closely monitor the deal and its implementation to ensure compliance.
The $1 billion investment by Disney in OpenAI also marks an interesting shift in the company's business strategy, as it seeks to leverage AI technology to build new products, tools, and experiences.
The agreement does not include voices or talent likenesses of the characters, so users won't be able to prompt Sora or ChatGPT to create videos with live-action versions of their favorite stars. Instead, they'll have access to animated and illustrated versions of these characters, which will be available for use in both Sora and ChatGPT starting early 2026.
This deal represents a significant shift in how Disney is approaching AI-generated content, as CEO Bob Iger had previously promised to bring such features to its platforms. The partnership with OpenAI promises to expand the creative possibilities of users, allowing them to tap into Disney's vast library of intellectual property in new and innovative ways.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hailed the deal as a major coup for his company, saying it shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to promote innovation that benefits society. "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," he said.
However, not everyone is celebrating this deal. The Writers Guild of America has expressed its discontent with the partnership, stating that it appears to sanction Disney's theft of writers' work and cedes the value of what creators produce to a tech company built on their intellectual property. The union plans to meet with Disney to probe the terms of the deal and ensure compliance with contracts and applicable laws.
SAG-AFTRA, the screen actors union, has taken a more measured approach, issuing a statement assuring its members that Disney and OpenAI have reached out to offer assurances about meeting their contractual and legal obligations. The union plans to closely monitor the deal and its implementation to ensure compliance.
The $1 billion investment by Disney in OpenAI also marks an interesting shift in the company's business strategy, as it seeks to leverage AI technology to build new products, tools, and experiences.
can't wait to see what kind of amazing stuff users will create with these iconic characters 
also, openai's ceo sam altman seems like a total sweetheart 
let's keep the focus on how this partnership can bring more creativity and innovation to the table instead of worrying about who might not be happy about it 
? But for real tho, it's a bit worrying that the Writers Guild is speaking out against it... like, what about the creators' rights? shouldn't they be getting more than just token nods from these big corp partners? 
Let's keep an eye on this & make sure everyone involved gets fairly compensated 
. And omg can you imagine the possibilities with ChatGPT & Sora?! AI-generated content is gonna change the game 
This whole thing feels kinda fishy if you ask me... I mean, Disney is basically taking all this iconic content and letting people create whatever they want with it? Sounds like a recipe for disaster 
. What's stopping them from just using AI to churn out some mediocre fan fiction or something? And what about the writers and actors who actually created these characters in the first place? It sounds like they're getting left high and dry... 
Do we really want our creative output just being used as a tool by big tech companies? I mean, isn't there value in what we create, even if it's just a character sketch or a script outline? 
! I mean, can you imagine creating sick vids of your fave Star Wars characters with AI? 
It's like a dream come true for gamers and animation fans alike 
I hope they get a fair shake out of this. On the other hand, it's dope to see Disney investing in AI tech, maybe they'll come up with some innovative stuff that changes the game 
, I mean, who needs Marvel when you have Disney's Star Wars? But seriously, this deal with OpenAI is kinda cool, I guess... they're finally using AI to bring their beloved characters to life in new ways. But what really gets me is the part about no live-action versions 
I'm all for innovation and progress, but can't we be more careful about how we use technology? It's like Disney is giving OpenAI a free pass to mess with our favorite childhood memories. 
And what's up with the writers' union? They're always so dramatic. Can't they just chill? 
. I mean, I feel for the writers and actors unions, but at the same time, it's not like Disney is taking away their jobs or anything... unless they're counting the billions of dollars that these IPs are worth 
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. And what about the writers and actors who make these stories in the first place? Are they just getting left out of the fun 
.
. Like, I get it, tech companies can be super powerful, but shouldn't they just, like, pay the writers or something? 
. I'm hyped to see how this collab goes down and what kinds of innovative content we'll get to create! 
... like what's up with all these characters being used without actual voices or talent likenesses tho? That's just weird 
. Also, how are they gonna make sure the writers aren't getting screwed over 
, but this deal's got some sketchy vibes 
. I mean, we're already seeing all sorts of AI-generated content being produced, and most of it just ends up looking or sounding kinda...off 
and then there's the writers guild drama 
? This deal is already getting me salty just thinking about all the Disney IP being slapped together with some fancy AI magic. And don't even get me started on the whole "responsible innovation" vibe OpenAI's got going on 