OpenAI makes $1bn deal to bring Disney characters to ChatGPT and Sora
1 hour ago Share Save Shiona McCallum Senior technology reporter Share Save
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Disney has agreed to invest $1bn (£740m) in OpenAI as part of a deal which will let people use many of its iconic characters in the chatbot ChatGPT and video-generation tool Sora. It is the first major studio to license parts of its catalogue to the tech giant, in a move which could have major implications for the studio's future plans. It means fans will be able to generate and share pictures and videos of more than 200 characters from Disney's franchises, including Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. The move comes as OpenAI faces mounting questions about how its rapidly advancing tech is used - and as anxiety in Hollywood increases over the impact of AI on the creative industries.
According to a blog post announcing the news, the list of eligible characters include those from Disney films Zootopia, Moana and Encanto - as well as characters like Star Wars' Luke Skywalker and Marvel's Deadpool. It of course also includes Mickey and Minnie Mouse. But quite how the characters will sound remains unclear, as Disney said the agreement "does not include any talent likenesses or voices". "The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry," Disney boss Bob Iger said. "Through this collaboration with OpenAI we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling." People are expected to be able to begin making the videos and images in Sora and ChatGPT in early 2026. The deal comes amid reports Disney lawyers sent Google a cease-and-desist letter on Wednesday accusing the tech firm of infringing its copyrights "on a massive scale". The BBC has asked Google for a response.
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