The CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, has reached an agreement with OpenAI. In this collaboration, Iger stated that Disney’s new partnership with OpenAI will enable the company to utilize AI technology to connect with younger audiences. Through a licensing deal between Disney and OpenAI, users of the Sora platform will have access to Disney characters. Iger envisions that eventually, users of Disney+ will be able to utilize Sora directly on the streaming service. This licensing arrangement grants ChatGPT and OpenAI’s Sora video platform the rights to feature beloved Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse and Darth Vader. Additionally, Disney is making a substantial investment of $1 billion in OpenAI and solidifying its position as a significant client. During an appearance on CNBC alongside OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Iger expressed that this venture provides Disney with an opportunity to participate in the rapidly expanding realm of AI and innovative forms of media and entertainment. He emphasized that this deal fulfills Disney’s longstanding aspiration to incorporate user-generated content on its Disney+ platform. Initially, Disney plans to showcase specific videos created using Sora on Disney+ to enhance user engagement, particularly among younger viewers. Ultimately, Iger aims to empower Disney+ users to create such content within the platform itself, marking a significant advancement for the company. Recognized as a supporter of creative endeavors in Hollywood, Iger acknowledges that despite increased content expenditure, streaming engagement has plateaued while social media and user-generated content are on the rise. The collaboration with OpenAI is viewed as a strategic move to captivate audiences on Disney platforms by providing fresh avenues for interaction with its iconic franchises. Embracing technological advancements, Iger views participation in innovation as preferable to being disrupted by it. He sees this partnership as a means for Disney to engage with the burgeoning trend of user-generated short-form videos on social media platforms. Altman highlighted the overwhelming demand for Disney characters on OpenAI’s products and envisioned possibilities such as creating personalized birthday videos featuring beloved characters like Buzz Lightyear or immersing oneself in a lightsaber duel from ‘Star Wars.’ Despite concerns in the entertainment industry regarding AI firms utilizing copyrighted materials, Iger assured that the OpenAI deal benefits creators rather than posing a threat. He emphasized that creators are honored through this collaboration due to the licensing arrangements put in place. The agreement stipulates that talent likeness or voices are excluded, and OpenAI is bound by safeguards to ensure the safe use of Disney’s intellectual property. Notably, in a separate legal matter, Disney and NBCUniversal filed a lawsuit against AI company Midjourney for allegedly producing unauthorized copies of works spanning from Star Wars to The Simpsons; however, Midjourney refuted these claims in their legal response, and the case remains unresolved.