The Walt Disney Company announced a three-year partnership with OpenAI on Thursday, including a $1 billion equity investment, to integrate its extensive library of characters into OpenAI's Sora AI video generator and ChatGPT Images.
The agreement grants users access to over 200 animated, masked, and creature characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, along with associated costumes, props, and vehicles. This includes iconic figures such as Mickey Mouse, Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Baymax, and Simba, as well as characters from franchises like Encanto, Frozen, Inside Out, Moana, Monsters, Inc., Toy Story, Up, and Zootopia. Users will also have access to animated or illustrated versions of Marvel and Lucasfilm characters like Black Panther, Captain America, Deadpool, Groot, Iron Man, Darth Vader, Han Solo, and Stormtroopers through Sora and ChatGPT Images.
The collaboration specifically excludes the use of talent likenesses or voices, according to Disney. In addition to the character integration, Disney stated it will become "a major customer of OpenAI," utilizing OpenAI's APIs to develop new products, tools, and experiences, including enhancements for its Disney+ streaming service.
Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, stated in a press release, \"The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and through this collaboration with OpenAI we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works.\" Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, added, \"Disney is the global gold standard for storytelling, and we're excited to partner to allow Sora and ChatGPT Images to expand the way people create and experience great content.\"
This partnership marks a notable development in Disney's approach to generative AI technology. The company has previously taken legal action against other AI platforms, including suing Midjourney for alleged intellectual property infringement and issuing a cease-and-desist letter to Character.AI over the unauthorized use of Disney characters. OpenAI's Sora, launched in September, enables users to create short videos from text prompts.
