Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Disney Invests $1 Billion in OpenAI, Licenses 200+ Characters for Sora and ChatGPT

The three-year pact brings short-form, licensed fan videos to Sora in early 2026 with curated clips headed to Disney+.

Overview

  • Disney becomes a major OpenAI customer and receives warrants for additional equity, planning to use ChatGPT and OpenAI APIs across its business.
  • The license enables Sora and ChatGPT Images to generate fan-created shorts and images using more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars characters.
  • Talent likenesses and voices are excluded, and Bob Iger said videos are capped at about 30 seconds.
  • Select Sora user creations will be curated for Disney+, adding sanctioned short-form content to the streaming service starting in early 2026.
  • The agreement is subject to final approvals, while Disney continues separate actions against other AI firms, including a cease-and-desist sent to Google.