The Walt Disney Company announcement on Thursday that it signed a three-year partnership with OpenAI that will bring its iconic characters to the company’s Sora AI video generator. Disney is investing $1 billion in equity in OpenAI.
Launched in September, Sora lets users create short videos using simple prompts. With this new deal, users will be able to draw more than 200 animated, masked and animal characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars, including costumes, props, vehicles and more.
These characters include iconic faces like Mickey Mouse, Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Baymax, Simba, as well as characters from Encanto, Frozen, Inside Out, Moana, Monsters Inc, Toy Story, Up and Zootopia. Users will also be able to draw animated or illustrated versions of Marvel and Lucasfilm characters like Black Panther, Captain America, Deadpool, Groot, Iron Man, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Stormtroopers and more.
Users will also be able to draw on these characters when using ChatGPT images, ChatGPT’s feature that allows users to create visuals using text prompts.
Disney says the deal does not include any talent likenesses or voices.
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and as we honor and protect creators and their work through this collaboration with OpenAI, we will expand our opportunities to tell stories thoughtfully and responsibly.
Disney has signed
Disney says that in addition to the deal, it will “become a major customer of OpenAI,” as it uses its APIs to build new products, tools and experiences, including Disney+.
Disney is the global gold standard for storytelling, and we’re excited to partner with Sora and ChatGPT to allow Images to expand the way people create and experience great content,” OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman said in a statement. This agreement shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to promote innovation that benefits society, respects the importance of creativity, and helps works reach vast new audiences.
It’s worth noting that Disney has sued generative AI platform Midjourney for ignoring requests to stop violating its intellectual property rights. Disney also sent a cease-and-desist letter to character.ai, urging the chatbot company to remove Disney characters from among the millions of AI companions on its platform.
Disney’s deal with OpenAI indicates that the company isn’t closing the door on AI platforms entirely.