The Walt Disney Company has entered a groundbreaking $1 billion investment agreement with OpenAI, securing a three-year licensing deal to utilize its innovative Sora AI platform for short-form videos. This agreement marks OpenAI’s first major content partnership, enabling the creation of user-generated social videos featuring beloved characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars. While these videos will showcase costumes and iconic environments, they will not include likenesses or voices of talent, likely to avoid potential union disputes.
Additionally, Disney plans to leverage OpenAI’s APIs to enhance experiences on Disney+, with the integration of Sora videos targeted for early 2026. CEO Robert Iger emphasized the deal’s potential to create fresh avenues for sharing Disney content while protecting the rights of creators. Although talks with other major studios like Comcast’s Universal Pictures have occurred, they remain cautious about partnering with AI companies. The agreement awaits final approvals and standard closing conditions.
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