GoKawiilDisney names ex-Character.AI CEO Karandeep Anand as its first chief technology officer
Disney has appointed Karandeep Anand, the former CEO of Character.AI, as its first-ever chief technology officer. The move is notable because Disney had sent Character.AI a cease-and-desist letter in September 2025 accusing the startup of hosting unauthorized versions of its copyrighted characters. New Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro made the hire; Anand previously worked at Facebook and Microsoft before joining Character.AI as a board adviser and later CEO.
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The appointment signals Disney's intent to aggressively integrate generative AI into its business despite the legal and ethical controversies surrounding such technology, including lawsuits against Character.AI over harmful chatbot interactions with minors. It also shows how quickly companies can pivot from adversarial IP disputes to hiring the executives they once targeted, reflecting the blurred lines between entertainment giants and AI startups.
- Disney hired Karandeep Anand, former Character.AI CEO, as its first chief technology officer.
- Disney had previously accused Character.AI of infringing its copyrighted characters via cease-and-desist letter.
- The hire, made by new CEO Josh D'Amaro, signals Disney's deeper push into AI despite Character.AI's legal troubles.
Source: techcrunch.com — Lucas Ropek, 2026-09-18
Published there as: “Disney’s first CTO led an AI startup it once accused of copying its characters”
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