The social media landscape is shifting with Disney character AI videos through a $1 billion investment and OpenAI partnership. The three-year licensing deal grants Sora access to over 200 characters from Disney’s entertainment portfolio for shareable social content.
Disney announced Thursday that the partnership enables Sora users to create short social videos featuring beloved characters based on text prompts. These AI-generated videos can be viewed and shared across platforms, potentially transforming social media content with branded Disney characters. The licensing terms specifically exclude any use of talent likenesses or voices.
The collaboration extends into broader business integration. Disney will become a major OpenAI customer, utilizing AI tools for new product development and experiences while deploying ChatGPT for employee use. This comprehensive strategy positions Disney to capitalize on social media trends while maintaining control over its intellectual property.
Bob Iger, Disney’s chief executive officer, characterized the partnership as marking a significant moment for the entertainment industry. He stressed that Disney would approach generative AI thoughtfully and responsibly, ensuring the technology extends the company’s storytelling capabilities while protecting creators and their work. This social media integration could redefine how audiences interact with entertainment brands online.
Hollywood studios have generally avoided AI partnerships, concerned about data usage and union conflicts. OpenAI has pursued conversations with several major studios about Sora’s potential, but Disney’s agreement enables unprecedented social sharing capabilities. The updated Sora platform, launched in September as an invitation-only app, allows users to generate videos from text prompts, explore content from other users, and produce realistic AI avatars with user-granted permissions.