BREAKING NEWS: Disney Bets $1 Billion on OpenAI, Licenses 200+ Iconic Characters to Sora AI Video Platform. The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) and OpenAI announced a huge, multi-faceted agreement today, marking the biggest partnership yet between a legacy media giant and a leading artificial intelligence firm.
The deal centers on a three-year content licensing agreement that brings over 200 iconic Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters to Sora, OpenAI’s generative video platform.
- $1 Billion Investment: Disney will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI, plus receive warrants for more stock. This isn’t just a licensing fee—it’s a major financial bet on the AI company’s future.
- Characters for Fans: The agreement lets Sora generate short, social-media-ready videos using a catalog of characters and environments, from Mickey Mouse to Darth Vader. However, the deal specifically excludes the likeness or voices of human actors.
- New Revenue Stream: Selected fan-created videos from Sora will be available to stream on Disney+ starting in early 2026. This creates a new way for Disney to make money from its vast library.
- Internal AI Tools: Beyond the content license, Disney becomes a major customer, using OpenAI’s APIs to build new tools for Disney+ and deploying ChatGPT for internal use by its employees.
This partnership is seen as a pivotal moment for the entertainment industry, which has struggled to figure out how to deal with generative AI. Instead of fighting for “opt-out” policies, Disney has effectively set the standard for a collaborative “opt-in” model.
Disney CEO Robert A. Iger called the AI advancement an “important moment for our industry,” saying the collaboration will “thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling.”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman added that the deal “shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to promote innovation that benefits society.”
The companies stressed a shared commitment to responsible AI use, including measures to protect user safety and the rights of creators. While the final transaction is subject to closing conditions, the partnership is expected to kick off a new wave of fan engagement and internal productivity at the House of Mouse.
“Technological innovation has continually shaped the evolution of entertainment, bringing with it new ways to create and share great stories with the world,” said Robert A. Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “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. Bringing together Disney’s iconic stories and characters with OpenAI’s groundbreaking technology puts imagination and creativity directly into the hands of Disney fans in ways we’ve never seen before, giving them richer and more personal ways to connect with the Disney characters and stories they love.”
BREAKING NEWS: Disney Bets $1 Billion on OpenAI, Licenses 200+ Iconic Characters to Sora AI Video Platform
