Disney Invests $1 Billion in OpenAI, Licensing 200+ Characters for Sora Video Generation

Overview

• Disney confirmed a three-year partnership that lets OpenAI’s Sora generate short user videos featuring characters across Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars.
• Sora access extends to costumes, props, vehicles and environments in addition to specified animated, masked and creature characters.
• Disney said it will deploy OpenAI’s ChatGPT to employees and is set to receive warrants to purchase additional OpenAI equity, according to reporting.
• OpenAI launched Sora in September as a text-to-video tool that produces short clips from user prompts.
• Reactions include concerns from fans and commentators about child safety, job impacts and intellectual property misuse.