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Disney Invests $1 Billion in OpenAI in Three-Year Deal to License 200+ Characters to Sora and ChatGPT

The partnership links Disney's catalog to OpenAI's generative tools to enable fan-made videos under safety rules excluding human faces or voices.

Overview

  • Disney will be a major customer of OpenAI's APIs to build products and experiences for Disney+, while employees adopt ChatGPT internally.
  • More than 200 characters and assets from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars are licensed for Sora video generation and for ChatGPT Images.
  • Curated Sora creations are planned for Disney+ in early 2026, with deployment expected after customary corporate and regulatory approvals.
  • The agreement bars use of talent likenesses, faces or voices and adds age restrictions and other controls to prevent harmful or illegal content.
  • Disney's $1 billion equity investment includes options to acquire additional ownership, with recent reporting noting continued IP enforcement against unlicensed AI use.